As the Congress central leadership on Monday initiated ‘dialogue’ with Punjab party MLAs to find an amicable solution to the rift in the state Congress ahead of the assembly elections, some of them are learnt to have voiced protest over chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh’s ‘soft handling’ of the 2015 ‘sacrilege case’. The high court had recently quashed a state government probe into the death of two people in police firing on those protesting against the desecration of the Granth Sahib in 2015, when the Shiroman Akali Dal-BJP government was in power. With the case acquiring religious sensitivity and many Congress MLAs agitated, the AICC is worried, with less than a year left for the assembly polls.Over 30 MLAs, including PCC chief Sunil Jakhar and some Cabinet ministers, held two separate rounds of meetings with the AICC panel comprising general secretary in-charge Harish Rawat and Mallikarjun Kharge and JP Aggarwal. The MLAs were asked to give their view on the issue. More MLAs, the CM and sulking MLA Navjyot Sidhu are expected to meet the panel soon.While Amarinder Singh had taken a clear upper hand in dealing with Sidhu, the sacrilege case has provided many other critics of the CM to join hands against him on a sensitive religious matter as well the allegation that rival Akali Dal leaders were allowed to get away from the sensitive corner. Many MLAs are learnt to have asked for a ‘course correction’. They argued that otherwise, Congress would be seen going back on its promises to the electorate. There are indications that Rahul Gandhi has been individually talking with some MLAs.
On the eve of the meeting, Captain’s critic PS Bajwa tweeted, “be courageous and answer the call of your conscience. The almighty and people of Punjab are watching.” It is seen as his advice to other critics of the CM. With the sacrilege case driving a wedge in the party, the Sidhu camp has tapped it, even while seeking pre-poll posts including renewal of his wish for deputy CMs post and other grouse regarding non-constitution of the PCC. “There is no question of any discussion on a change of leadership in the Punjab government and our efforts is to unite the state party completely ahead of the assembly polls by addressing all internal issues,” said an AICC source. As of now, the CM is believed to enjoy majority support of MLAs.
