Aman Sood
Tribune News Service
Patiala, August 23
Amid the political storm triggered by the controversial statements of his advisers Malwinder Singh Mali and Pyare Lal Garg, Pradesh Congress Committee president Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday summoned both of them to his residence “to discuss the present financial crisis and the issues concerning farmers”.
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The advisers confirmed “absolutely no discussion took place” on their personal remarks. Garg and Mali had come prepared with their notes pertaining to various issues concerning Punjab.
“The main issue discussed was the fact that our debt in 2011 was around Rs 27,835 crore and due to inability on part of successive governments to tackle the menace, it now stands at over Rs 2.73 lakh crore,” Garg told The Tribune. “The Chief Minister should bother about Punjab and its unemployed youth, rather than worrying about our opinion on Kashmir or Pakistan. We had our opinion earlier and will further express it freely,” Garg said.
Will continue to speak our mind
The Chief Minister should bother about Punjab and its unemployed youth, rather than worrying about our opinion on Kashmir or Pakistan. We will further express our opinion freely. — Pyare Lal Garg, adviser to PCC President
“Whatever I had to say, I’ve said on social media, and that is final. Our priority is Punjab and welfare of its people,” Mali said to the mediapersons after his meeting with Sidhu. “Our discussions today were focused for the development of Punjab and to create more job opportunities for youth,” he said.
CM Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday had urged Sidhu’s advisers to stick to giving advice to the PPCC president and “not speak on matters of which they clearly had little or no knowledge”.
Navjot Sidhu meets advisers Mali, Garg; no discussion on K-remarks
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