RINKU TO TAKE UP ‘CHOR MLA’ REMARK WITH CAPTAIN

JALANDHAR: Reacting to the ‘chor (thief) MLA’ remark by local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu over the encroachment of government land, Jalandhar (West) MLA Sushil Kumar Rinku said here on Tuesday that he will take up the matter with chief minister (CM) Captain Amarinder Singh and the high command. “I will meet the CM and tell him that a minister is terming his colleague MLA a thief and ask him if he will ask the minister to apologise or will give me a free hand to take whatever action I want,” Rinku said.

Rinku said that he doesn’t want to take any action that will embarrass the party, but if supporting the public makes him a thief, then he will make people answer who is a thief. Both the controversial statements by Sidhu and Rinku came amid the Congress’ efforts to settle down the differences among party leaders.

On Monday, Jalandhar MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary, all the four MLAs of the city, including Rinku, Pargat Singh (Jalandhar Cantonment), Avtar Henry Junior (North) and Rajinder Beri (Central) and mayor Jagdish Raja held a meeting and decided to meet Navjot Sidhu in a day or two to settle down the differences.

However, after Sidhu’s remark MLA Rinku refused to meet Sidhu and said that he will meet the CM.

Sidhu had said here on Monday that he will not allow any ‘chor’ MLA to encroach upon the government land. “A one-time settlement policy doesn’t mean that anyone can encroach upon the government land. Is this a joke or a jungle raj? ki koi vi ik-adha chor MLA uth ke sarkari jagah gher lave (That any thief MLA can encroach upon the government land),” Sidhu told this reporter over the phone.

Referring to the action of Rinku climbing a JCB machine and stopping the demolition of a colony, Sidhu said it came to the fore that Rinku has a partnership on that 7.5- acre land.

Chaudhary termed Sidhu’s remark unfortunate, but said, as planned he, along with MLAs, will meet minister for talks.