Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh
Amid the ongoing stand-off between Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and his Cabinet colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu, who was divested of the local bodies portfolio, three Punjab Cabinet ministers met Congress leader Ahmed Patel in Delhi today and gave a detailed insight into the “performance” of Sidhu as Local Bodies and Cultural Affairs Minister.
The three ministers — Brahm Mohindra, Charanjit Singh Channi and Bharat Bhushan Ashu — along with secretary (political) to the Chief Minister Sandeep Sandhu flew to Delhi to clear air on Sidhu’s performance.
The mayors of Patiala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Amritsar were reportedly also called for the meeting.
The meeting could not materialise last week as Patel was not available. Sources in the PPCC said Mohindra and Ashu spoke on problems faced by the party due to “poor performance” of Sidhu as the Local Bodies Minister. Channi reportedly spoke on Sidhu’s “performance” as Cultural Affairs Minister.
The Congress had deputed party veteran Patel to resolve the issues between Sidhu and the CM. Capt Amarinder had met Patel during his visit to Delhi last month.
Sources said the Chief Minister had already spoken to the party leadership on Sidhu’s issue. The ministers’ briefing would counter what Sidhu had given in writing to Rahul Gandhi on his performance.
With Rahul publicly announcing his resignation from the post of Congress president, Sidhu’s prospects of any rehabilitation have become bleak.
‘He should resign’
Former Deputy Speaker and SAD (Taksali) leader Bir Devinder on Thursday said Navjot Singh Sidhu should resign from the Cabinet rather than suffering from political subjugation. In a statement, he said if he adhered to self-respect and dignity, he must quit the Cabinet. “Capt Amarinder Singh has successfully outmaneuvered all his inconvenient colleagues in the Congress, one by one, including me. Destiny would recall Sidhu to serve the people of Punjab at an opportune time”.
