SIDHU’s Resignation As Punjab Congress Chief Stuns Gandhis

CONGRESS High Command suffered a big jolt following the resignation of its diehard loyalist  Novjot Singh Sidhu as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President followed by his camp followers from the PPCC and ministry. He was handpicked for the position only 72 days ago by Rahul Gandhi and AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and ousting Captain Amarinder Singh later as Chief Minister to appease Sidhu and appointing Charanjit Singh Channi as CM  a few months before the state goes to elect a new legislative assembly. Party sources said that his resignation was not accepted and the leadership ‘will try and sort the matter. “The state leadership has been asked to resolve the matter at their own level first,” a Congress statement said. In a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Sidhu had said: “The collapse of a man’s character stems from the compromise corner, I can never compromise on Punjab’s future and the agenda for the welfare of Punjab”. He will continue to serve the party. Punjab Chief Minister told media after Sidhu’s resignation there is no constitutional crisis in the state. Sidhu, who had led the rebellion against Captain Amarinder, was feeling insulted for rejection of his objections to the induction of some MLAs into the newly constituted Council of Ministers and appointments of some officials. He had opposed the induction of former irrigation minister Rana Gurjit Singh into the cabinet. Rana Gurjit was removed from the Amarinder Singh cabinet in 2018 following allegations of corruption. Six Congress MLAs from Doaba, Rana’s home region, had written to Sidhu, expressing “resentment” against the decision, pointing out that Rana Gurjit is yet to be absolved of the charges. Sidhu is also upset at the inclusion of Bharat Bhushan Ashu, with whom his relations still remain strained. Sidhu is opposed to A.P.S. Deol’s appointment as advocate general because he was the lawyer of former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini who is being investigated for his alleged role in the killing of two Sikh protesters in Behbal Kalan in 2015 when the SAD-BJP combine was in power in the state. Amarinder had on assuming power in the state in 2017 promised action against Saini and Parkash Singh Badal who was then the chief minister and Sukhbir Singh Badal who was the deputy chief minister-cum-home minister. Edited by @chakravartypk. Image courtesy: ANI