Chandigarh: Navjot Singh Sidhu is expected to continue as president of the Punjab Congress, following an almost three-hour-long meeting with Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, two days after his resignation from the post.
A three-member empowered coordination committee has also been set up to resolve various issues. Sources said the coordination committee is set to feature Channi, Sidhu and at least one All India Congress Committee general secretary, in order to sort out such matters in the future.
The Sidhu camp has further claimed that an agreement has also been reached between Sidhu and the CM over changing Punjab’s Director General of Police, the Advocate General and certain tainted ministers in Channi’s cabinet. But there was no confirmation from the government side on what exactly has been agreed.
Punjab cabinet minister Raj Kumar Verka told ThePrint that “Sidhu will continue as the president of the party and the matter has been resolved”. But he declined to comment on the terms and conditions of the resolution arrived at.
Sidhu had resigned Tuesday, objecting to certain choices made by the Channi-led government.
Also read: Amarinder leaving Congress but not joining BJP, blames ‘unstable’ Sidhu for damaging party
Camps tell different stories
Following the meeting between Channi and Sidhu, sources in the latter’s camp were at pains to point out that the three demands he had put forth had been agreed to.
However, sources in the government said the only demand agreed to by the government is of replacing DGP Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota in the days to come.
“It was agreed that a panel of three officers who are eligible to become DGPs will be sent to the UPSC tonight itself. The new DGP will be selected from among these names,” said a cabinet minister, who did not wish to be named. The minister added that a decision to replace the Advocate General A.P.S. Deol can only be taken by the party high command in New Delhi, as his appointment had their assent.
“No decision has been taken regarding any tainted ministers,” the minister said.
Central observer and Congress general secretary Harish Chaudhary was also present during the meeting between Sidhu and Channi. Chaudhary has been in Chandigarh since Wednesday, but had not met Sidhu. The Congress high command had hardened it stance against Sidhu and Chaudhary was tasked with finding an alternative to him. Sidhu had been given a day to withdraw his resignation unconditionally, and state leaders were asked to sort out the matter.
CM Channi, who was first supposed to go to Sidhu’s residence in Patiala Wednesday evening, cancelled his visit. Then, Thursday morning, Sidhu agreed to meet Channi in Chandigarh, tweeting his intention.
Chief Minister has invited me for talks … will reciprocate by reaching Punjab Bhawan, Chandigarh at 3:00 PM today, he is welcome for any discussions !
— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) September 30, 2021
Even on his way to the meeting at Punjab Bhavan, Sidhu kept tweeting his objection to Sahota’s appointment.
Thousands of cases are solved by Punjab Police on daily basis, none requires a SIT or Inquiry Commission. I have elaborated the role of Badals behind Sacrilege, Behbal Kalan & Kotkapura firing multiple times. Yr 2018/19 reiterating my demand for Justice with Sukhi Randhawa Ji 1/2 pic.twitter.com/2b3mfRP7yU
— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) May 15, 2021
Chaudhary joined the meeting only after a first round between Channi and Sidhu had ended and he was informed about the possibility of reconciliation. After the three met, Channi left with Chaudhary while Sidhu left for Patiala an hour later.
A handful of MLAs sympathetic to Sidhu remained present at Punjab Bhavan during the meeting. One of the MLA present at the spot told ThePrint: “The matter has been resolved. A three-member committee will ensure that such crises never erupt again.”
On the day Sidhu resigned, several senior party leaders had expressed their displeasure that he had “embarrassed” the party high command. That displeasure doesn’t seem to have gone away, with former state Congress chief Sunil Jakhar tweeting head of Thursday’s Channi-Sidhu meeting that “enough is enough” and the CM’s authority is being undermined.
Enough is enough. Put an end to attempts to undermine the authority of CM time and again. Aspersions being cast on selection of AG & DGP is actually questioning the integrity/competence of CM and Home Minister to deliver results. It’s time to put the foot down and clear the air.
— Sunil Jakhar (@sunilkjakhar) September 30, 2021
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