Explanation sought from absentee ministers, MLAS

CHANDIGARH: The All-india Congress Committee (AICC) has demanded explanation from Punjab ministers and MLAS who failed to take part in districtlevel protests against the Narendra Modi government on November 15.

“There are 42 MLAS who failed to take part in the protests held by party’s district units to which they belong. Of them, 15 remained absent without informing the party,” a Congress leader, seeking anonymity, told HT.

The cabinet ministers who stayed away from the protests, included Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Charanjit Singh Channi, OP Soni, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria. The absentee MLAS include Amit Vij, Inderbir Singh Bolaria, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Barindermeet Singh Pahra, Ajaib Singh Bhatti and Fateh Jung Singh Bajwa.

Tript Bajwa told HT that he could not attend the protest as he was attending some other event planned by party workers. “I should have gone to the protest, but sometimes it becomes difficult to reach everywhere,” he said. “In future, I would take part in party events as informed by the state unit head or the high command,” he added.

The matter was discussed in a meeting attended by AICC general secretaries, secretaries, state in-charges, state unit heads and heads of party’s frontal organisations on Saturday.

AICC general secretary KC Venugopal, who chaired the

› I could not attend the protest as I was attending some other event planned by party workers.

TRIPT RAJINDER SINGH BAJWA, state cabinet minister

meeting, asked state unit heads to seek explanation of absentee MLAS. The high command sought a consolidated report from Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar about the absentees.

Talking to HT, Jakhar said, “As the Congress is the ruling party in Punjab having 80 MLAS, the high command expects us to take part in all party events more effectively.”

He added that the November 15 protests were planned as part of ‘Bharat Bachao campaign’ to take on the Modi government for its all-round failures. He said the protest was delayed after the state leadership’s request in view of the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak.

Jakhar said the party will continue block-level protests till November 25 and a mega protest will be held in Delhi on November 30.