Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 4
Amid the party high command working on a rapprochement between Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and former Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, the two leaders coldly clashed in the presence of former Congress President Rahul Gandhi who came to the state on Sunday to kick -starts his three-day ‘Kheti Bachao Yatra’ against Acts farm.
The differences between the Chief Minister and Sidhu were visible in a public meeting today, as the two leaders did not exchange compliments. While the Chief Minister missed out on mentioning
Sidhu in his speech, the cricketer turned politician, while thanking Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and the top leadership mentioned his bête noire at the end.
AICC Secretary General and Punjab Affairs Officer Harish Rawat, who played a key role in ensuring that Sidhu participated in the rally and shared the stage, addressed the party leader in his speeches. However, Sidhu was sitting away from Rahul and the Chief Minister.
During the tractor rally as well, Sidhu was not forced to sit on the tractor that had Rahul Gandhi and Captain Amarinder Singh on either side while the head of the Punjab Pradesh Congressional Committee (PPCC), Sunil Jakhar, drove it. Sidhu sat on the tow tractor with Rawat and other leaders.
During his speech, when cabinet minister Sukhjinder Randhawa slipped him on Rawat’s behalf, Sidhu in a bodily gesture asked Randhawa to let him speak. “Ghodhe ko eshara hi kafi hota hai, lat kisi aur ko mar lo. Menu pela bhi betah ke rakhya si, ”Sidhu joked in a chaste Punjabi when making an indirect reference to being marginalized in government when he resigned as minister last year.
The last time the cricketer-turned-politician shared the stage with the Chief Minister was at the inauguration of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor in November last year.
Speaking at the rally, Sidhu put his government on the canvas by asking it to come forward to help farmers by paying the minimum support price (MSP), if the Center stopped paying it.
Recently, Captain Amarinder Singh made it clear that Sidhu could not be appointed Chairman of PPCC as Sunil Jakhar was doing a good job, although he was welcome to rejoin as Minister of Energy.
Rahul in sangrur for today’s rally
Sangrur: Congressional leader Rahul Gandhi arrived Sunday night at a PWD rest home in Sangrur amid increased security. “Rahul Gandhi will stay at the nursing home and lead the tractor rally from here on Monday,” Cabinet Minister Vijay Inder Singla said. boss
Dalit BJP leaders join Congress in Abohar
Abohar: Two senior BJP leaders from the Dalit community and the husband of a former councilor, who had resigned from the party in protest against agricultural laws, have joined Congress. Former councilors Mani Ram Adani and Malkat and Paramjeet Pamma are prominent faces of the Dalits. boss
YAD fences appear, aim at Rahul
Bathinda: The Akali Dal Youth (YAD) have put up posters in Bathinda, targeting former Congress President Rahul Gandhi. The posters bring Rahul to the five supporters of the SAD president on the new farm laws.
