MALWINDER SINGH MALI: TROUBLESHOOTER OR TROUBLEMAKER?

Malwinder Singh Mali, 63, one of the four advisers of Punjab Congress president Navjot

Singh Sidhu, who is in the eye of storm after his controversial remarks on Jammu and

Kashmir, has a long history of creating troubles. From facing a TADA case in 1990s and locking horns with education ministers Sewa Singh Sekhwan and Sikandar Singh Maluka, Mali, a retired teacher, is no stranger to controversies. He is jack of all trades but master of none. From being a student union leader, journalist and editor of a magazine, Mali has served with chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh and his predecessor and Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal as a public relations officer, even as he was a teacher with the Punjab education department.

His first stint was as public relations officer with late SGPC president Gurcharan Singh Tohra. “I am still surprised that how Sidhu has picked him. He was not known to him. His thinking and opinions are aligned with the Left,” said an education department employee, not wanting to be named. “However, he is an honest and a plain speaking man,” he added. Hailing from Sarkaundi village of Sangrur, Mali is now settled in Mohali.

Mali is vocal on Punjab issues, particularly on social media and channels. He has been active during the farmers’ protest. As far as his association with Sidhu is concerned, Mali says he was not known to him, and was surprised that why Sidhu picked him. However, a person close to Sidhu said that PCC president met Mali at a wedding function, where he lauded him for his ideology for Punjab.