Chandigarh, December 31
Punjab Congress dissidents have sought a copy of the report of
inquiry conducted by Chief Secretary Jai Singh Gill in Transport Minister Tej Parkash Singh’s case before deciding their next line of action as two of them — Mr K.S. Lalli and Jail Minister Malkit Singh Birmi — reaffirmed their faith in the leadership of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.
“We are not in the numbers game any more. But if the Chief Minister thinks that it has broken into our camp, he is mistaken. We have five six legislators waiting to cross over to our side,” remarked a spokesman of the dissidents admitting that desertion by Mr Lalli and Mr Birmi was expected.
“For us they were on deputation to our camp and their return to the Chief Minister’s camp was expected,” said the spokesman denying that there was “any setback to their demand for change in the leadership of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP).”
The dissidents also reportedly complained to the party high command over the attempts by the other group in creating dissensions in them by making coveted offers. The high command, they maintain, took a serious view of the development believing that this may act as a catalyst in precipitating rather than resolving the present crisis.
Frustrated at the delay in the final decision, the dissidents can take a hasty decision which may prove costly for the party in the state not immediately but also in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
“There has been some resentment in the party. But we are committed to the party and its President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi. We are all united and will stay united. We are waiting for the verdict of Mrs Sonia Gandhi,” said Mr Harnam Dass Johar revealing that dissidents held a meeting at the residence of Mr Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa today to review the situation arising out of the defection of Mr Lalli and Mr Birmi.
On the New Year Day, the dissidents will have a dinner meeting at the residence of Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal.
The party high command, however, was still keeping all options open.It was trying to work out an “acceptable solution” as it was aware of the adamancy of the dissidents on their demand.
There were jubilations in the Chief Minister’s camp as a former Director-General of Punjab Police and the President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), Mr H.S. Hanspal, escorted Mr Lalli and Mr Birmi to the Chief Minister’s office from where they released a two-page signed letter.
“Without going into the causes of this fracture in the party ranks and keeping in view the challenges facing the party, we reciprocate the Chief Minister’s appeal for introspection. We welcome the flexibility shown by the Chief Minister in addressing some of the basic concerns and grievances of our colleagues. We feel that the Chief Minister’s appeal for self-introspection and call to all party workers to participate in the process of reconciliation deserves to be reciprocated in the larger interest of the people, the State and the party, and we, therefore, appeal to all our colleagues to strengthen the party at this critical juncture and not to take any step which may precipitate and damage the party,”
they said in the joint letter.
While the Chief Minister’s camp was hopeful of more dissidents “returning home in the New Year”, the dissidents also exuded with confidence hoping that the Congress President would soon give her verdict to end the crisis to their satisfaction.
“As far as Transport Minister Tej Parkash Singh’s case is concerned, there has been no change in our stand. We just want to go through the report. If going by the statements made at yesterday’s Press conference are any indication, Mr Pandey has been found guilty of impropriety. Then he should be punished on the lines on which other officers committing similar or less serious misconducts. If Deputy Commissioner or Commissioner or Ferozepore or Senior Superintendent of Police of Mansa can be suspended, why not the Vigilance chief,” the Spokesman added.
