Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 6
Days after two rebel ministers — Tript Rajinder Bajwa and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa — wrote to Capt Amarinder Singh seeking district status for Batala, the Chief Minister in a subtle rebuke to his Cabinet colleagues said instead of shooting off letter in this manner, they should have discussed the issue with him.
Replying to the two ministers, once trusted loyalists-turned-critics, the CM said Rajya Sabha MP Partap Bajwa had already raised the issue through a letter on August 11. Of late, the MP has joined hands with Captain Amarinder to counter the influence of the Majha ministers, who had been at the forefront of the rebel against CM.
Already under consideration
Had they come to me and spoken about it, I would have told them that I am already looking into the matter, and would have even consulted them in this regard. —Capt Amarinder Singh, CM
“Had they come to me and spoken about it, I would have told them that I am already looking into the matter, and would have even consulted them in this regard,” said Captain Amarinder, taking a dig at the two ministers.
In political circles, CM’s reply is being seen as a clear message to the two rebel ministers who had sought an early appointment from him to discuss the vital issue.
The demand for declaring Batala as a district was already under consideration and a final decision would be taken after due consideration of various issues involved, the CM said.
“There have been some reports in the media over the past few days indicating that citizens of Batala have also publicly raised the demand for a new district to be carved out of their region,” said the CM while expressing surprise that neither Tript nor Sukhjinder had seen the reports in the public domain nor deemed it fit to discuss the issue with him before shooting off a joint letter in this manner.
The CM said he was cognisant of Batala’s significance to Punjab’s history and culture, as well as the public sentiment. He would discuss the issue with various stakeholders before taking a decision, he added. He would do everything in his power to ensure that Batala got its due, he added.
Sidhu meets working chiefs; Capt leaders
Chandigarh: Continuing with his efforts to set up the new Pradesh Congress Committee body, state Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu held another round of discussions with his four working presidents on Monday. Sidhu also met the PCC general secretary (organisation) to set the ball rolling for finalising the name of office-bearers. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh met party leaders, including MPs Ravneet Bittu and Gurjit Aujla, and ministers at his residence. TNS
Govt on House hunt for PCC chief
The government is looking for an accommodation here for PCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, it is learnt. Sources said efforts were on to allot a house out of CM’s pool at ministers’ complex in Sector 39. Sidhu is entitled to an MLA flat, but could be allotted a ministerial house owing to security concerns.
CM raps 2 ministers over letter on Batala
{$excerpt:n}
