Cong dilemma: If we take on Khaira, why not Majithia, ask Jakhar, Sidhu
CHANDIGARH: The Congress dilemma on taking on leader of oppositionSukhpalSinghKhaira in the winter session of the Punjab assembly after court summonstohiminadrugcaseseems to have taken the shape of its strategy.
Addressingapressconference here on Monday, Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar said the party would bring a motion of thanks to highlight the government’s achievements. “The procurement of paddy was smooth, we have been able to bust the terrormodulecarryingouttargeted killings in the state to disturb peace and communal harmony and we have broken the backboneofdrugtradeinPunjab.The Captain Amarinder Singh governmenthasapositiveagendaof good governance,” Jakhar said.
Onparty’sstrategy duringthe session on court summons to Khaira, the state Congress chief said the leader of opposition will havetofacesomeuncomfortable questions on the issue. But he admitted,sowouldtheCongress.
“IfwetakeonKhaira,whynot Majithia (former Akali minister who was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate in the Bhola drug case)?” he asked.
Local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who was also present at the press conference, seconded Jakhar. “I totally support this view. We won elections promising that we will nail Majithia. And now we cannot go afterKhairawithoutquestioning Majithia’sinvolvement,”hesaid.
Jakhar tried to turn the tables ontheAAPbyquestioningwhyis the party “shying away” from seeking a debate on the issue of drugs this time. “Let there be a debateondrugs.LetAkalistarget KhairaandAAPtargetMajithia. We will spare no one if they are the real culprits,” he said. When asked about the CM taking “no evidence” line on Majithia, the twoleaderssaidasperlaw,action has to be based on evidence.
Whenaskedonthedurationof session being shortened to three days, Jakhar said he agrees parties should get ample time to debate on important issues. But he took a dig at the NDA governmentattheCentretooforcutting shortthewintersessionofParliament.
MCPOLLSBEFORE DEC20:SIDHU
Local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu announced that the municipal polls for three corporations — Jalandhar, Amritsar and Patiala — will be held before December 20. “In Ludhiana, the delimitation of wards is still to complete.Wehavewrittentothe state Election Commission. It is most likely to hold the polls before December 20,” he said. Jakhar said a panel headed by himwillscreenapplicantsforthe civic polls.
JAKHARYETTO TAKEOATHASMP
Jakhar said he was still to take oath as an MP after winning the Gurdaspur bypoll as the Parliamentsessionhasbeendeferredto December15.“Theytoldmetodo so at the speaker’s chamber but I refused. I am not a pickpocket to take oath that way,” he quipped.
‘HAPPYWITHBABUS’
The government transferred local government director KK Yadav,tourismdirectorandtwo municipal commissioners on Sunday.Sidhuwhowassaidtobe unhappy with these officers deniedhehadsoughttheirtransfer. “It is the CM’s prerogative. I amhappywitheverythingexcept the goods and services tax (GST),” he said.