Amarinder meets Sonia in Delhi

CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi for the first time since the elevation of Navjot Singh Sidhu as the party’s state unit chief, with the two discussing issues relating to crucial work needed to be done before next year’s elections and the continuing criticism of the government from within the party.

After the meeting, the All India Congress Committee general secretary incharge of Punjab affairs, Harish Rawat, said that Singh informed the Congress president about the action initiated by the state government on an 18-point agenda set by the central leadership. Rawat added that there was no discussion on cabinet reshuffle.

Rawat said Gandhi advised the state government and the party organisation to work together. “The Congress president also asked me to ensure that both (Singh and Sidhu) work within their respective limits, but cooperate with each other,” he told journalists on continued factionalism in the state unit. “Met @Incindia president #Soniagandhi ji in Delhi this evening to discuss various state related issues. Spent an extremely satisfying one hour with her,” the chief minister said in a Twitter post.

Singh calls on Shah, seeks repeal of 3 farm laws

The Punjab CM also called on Union home minister Amit Shah and urged him to repeal the three farm laws, citing social, economic and security implications of a prolonged farmers’ agitation. “While these protests have so far been largely peaceful, one can sense rising tempers, especially as the state moves towards elections in early 2022,” the chief minister said.

What was the objective of the dinner you hosted for Opposition leaders?

It is to get everyone together and to start a conversation. All political parties were of the Opposition, and we wanted to see how we could go forward together; that’s it.

It came very soon after Rahul Gandhi hosted a breakfast meeting of the Opposition. Did you have that in mind, as yours came so soon after it?

We don’t measure our moves by finding out who has what meeting and where... It so happened that I decided to have dinner, and I wanted to call my friends and this has nothing to do with anybody else.

A lot of the people who attended spoke about 2024 elections. What do you think came out of it?

If you start a conversation, it’s not a dialogue that can be completed in one go. The conversation will continue.

One of the persons who attended your dinner was Sharad Pawar. He also had

You managed to get BJD and YSR both at your dinner, and both are not associated with any Opposition activity.

I’ve had personal relations with Rajasekhara Reddy (chief minister Jagan Reddy’s father). He is a dear friend, I did so many battles for him. I have close relations with everybody. They were very kind to come... I have very close relations with the BJD also. Pinaki Misra (BJD MP) was my chamber junior. This is a conversation because we feel that the BJP is destroying the foundations of our republic; they have belittled every institution in this country... I think all parties are now beginning to feel that we must come together and save India...

I believe that Omar Abdullah said that a strong Congress makes for a strong Opposition. Do you think your party is strong at the moment?

Obviously we are not as strong as we should be, we should become stronger...