Former CM Charanjit Channi Holds Meeting with

Around 50 Leaders

Demand Grows to Replace Raja Warring and Partap Bajwa

Chandigarh, 03 July (H.S.): Turmoil has intensified in

the Punjab Congress following the recent appointments made by the party high command.

On Friday, the state Congress witnessed hectic political activity throughout

the day. Former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa

suddenly met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi, while former Chief

Minister Charanjit Singh Channi held a show of strength, projecting himself as

a Dalit leader.

The Congress high command recently made several

appointments in Punjab. Despite speculation, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring was

not removed as Punjab Congress president, nor was Partap Singh Bajwa replaced

as Leader of the Opposition. Channi is reportedly building pressure to either

be declared the state president or the chief ministerial face.

An upset Channi opened a front by holding an emergency

meeting with Congress leaders at his residence in Morinda. Around 50 leaders,

including three sitting MLAs, attended the meeting.

After the meeting, former minister Tripat Rajinder Singh

Bajwa said that all leaders asked Channi to speak to the high command. He said

they wanted the Congress to form the government in Punjab and had no fight with

the high command, but they were unhappy with the recent decision. He said Raja

Warring’s continuation as president was not acceptable and urged the high

command to reconsider the decision.

Meanwhile, Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa met

Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. He was also seen with BJP Rajya Sabha

MP Tarun Chugh. After meeting Shah, Randhawa said that questions about the

situation in Punjab Congress should be asked to Channi and Raja Warring. He

said it was unfortunate that such a situation had emerged despite several

meetings. Randhawa clarified that his meeting with Amit Shah was pre-scheduled

and that he had gone to discuss issues concerning his border constituency.

Among those who reached Channi’s residence were Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa,

Barnala MLA Kala Dhillon, Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh, Former Deputy CM

O.P. Soni, Former ministers Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Gurkirat Kotli, Gurpreet Kangar,

Nazar Singh Manshahia, Former MLAs Parminder Singh Pinki, Davinder Singh

Ghubaya, Inderbir Singh Bolaria, Lakhbir Lakha, Tarsem D.C., Darshan Brar,

Harminder Singh Gill, Madan Lal Jalalpur and several other leaders.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH