Jakhar seeks Bajwa, Dullo expulsion, says they crossed the line

Such tragedies do not give licence to any to indulge in indiscipline. I’ll write to the Congress president to act against the two. SUNIL JAKHAR ,

Punjab Cong chief

CHANDIGARH: A day after Congress MPS Partap Singh Bajwa and Shamsher Singh Dullo sought CBI, ED probes into illicit liquor trade in the state, Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar demanded their immediate expulsion from the Congress for crossing the ‘lakshman rekha’ of party discipline.

Jakhar said he will write to Congress president Sonia Gandhi to seek “strict action” against the brazen indiscipline of the two Rajya Sabha MPS, who have attacked their own government. While extending his sympathies to the families of those who lost their lives in the horrific, he said such tragedies do not give license to any individual to indulge in indiscipline.

Bajwa and Dullo, both former presidents of Punjab Congress, had met Governor VP Singh Badnore and alleged “clear-cut failure” on the part of the state administration. Jakhar, in a detailed riposte, said it was time to stem the rot and save the Congress from the “petty machinations” of the likes of Bajwa and Dullo. “Ye jis thali mein khatey hain ussi mein chhed kartey hain (They are biting the hand that feeds them). They are only interesting in fulfilling their vested interest,” he said.

Asserting that the actions of Bajwa and Dullo could not be tolerated any longer, the Punjab Congress chief said men like these, who did not have even the courage to face elections, were no asset to the party.

MPS HIT BACK: ‘THERE’S LIMIT TO ACCEPTING MISGOVERNANCE’

Bajwa and Dullo said there is always a limit to accepting “misgovernance and maladministration”. Responding to Sunil Jakhar’s demand for their expulsion, Bajwa said they are loyalists of the Congress but not of leaders who are looting the state under the garb of welfare.

Bajwa said they had been raising the issue of liquor mafia and writing to the chief minister but he had the audacity to publicly comment in a press conference that he does not read their communications.

“We do not understand how the conscience of Jakhar permits him to ignore a tragedy of this magnitude,” he said. Dullo also asked Jakhar to perform his dharma as the state unit chief of the party. “Is it a crime to talk against mafia? We are working to save the Congress,” he said, accusing Jakhar of not performing his duty.

I haven’t bartered away my conscience for a seat in durbar of a former Maharaja. I will continue to raise issues of such magnitude. PARTAP SINGH BAJWA , MP