Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi
The internal feud within the Congress' Punjab unit is far from over. After a lull for over a month reports have emerged suggesting that state chief Navjot Singh Sidhu of having issues with the party functioning, this time directly with Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi.
Earlier, there was a tussle between Sidhu and former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh which eventually resulted in the latter's exit from the party. And now, according to highly-placed sources, there has been an ongoing tussle between Sidhu and Channi over many issues relating to party functioning.
While addressing a public gathering in Rupnagar, Charanjit Singh Channi pledged a solution to all the issues including sacrilege and drugs in Punjab. The chief minister said that he could be poor but he is not weak.
"I can be poor but I am not weak. I will solve Punjab's issues that people in every house of Punjab will say "Ghar ghar de vich chali gal, Channi karda masle (issues) hal (solve)". I will solve all issues including sacrilege, drug," Punjab CM said.
Channi's remarks come after Punjab Advocate General APS Deol issued a statement hitting back at State Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu and accused him of obstructing the functioning of the state government and the AG office, adding that his statements seek to derail the government's efforts to deliver justice in cases related to drugs and sacrilege.
"Navjot Singh Sidhu is obstructing the functioning of the government and the office of AG. His repeated utterances seek to derail the earnest efforts of the State govt to ensure justice in the drugs matter and the sacrilege cases," said the former AG in his statement.
"Navjot Singh Sidhu is spreading misinformation to gain political advantage over his political colleagues. There is a concerted attempt by vested interests to malign the functioning of the Congress party in view of coming elections in Punjab for their selfish political gain by politicising the constitutional office of the Advocate-General of Punjab." Deol asserted.
The incidents of sacrilege occurred between June to October 2015 following the theft of the sacred Guru Granth Sahib from a Gurudwara in Burj Jawaharsinghwala, Faridkot, and the discovery of torn pages from the Holy Book in Bargari, Faridkot.
They caused widespread discontent and outrage amongst members of the Sikh community.
Meanwhile, Sidhu offered prayers at the Burj Jawahar Singh Wala gurdwara in Faridkot from where a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib was stolen in 2015.
"Ardas at Gurudwaara saheb Burj Jawahar Singh wala, Bargari .... Praying for exemplary punishment for those involved in the sacrilege of Guru Granth saheb ji ... should be a deterrent for generations to come!" Sidhu said in a tweet.
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