Chandigarh, June 19
The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, today removed the Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS), Mr Malkiat Singh Birmi, on the direction given by the party high command. Mr Birmi, who was elected from the Ludhiana (rural) constituency, was holding the charge of Jails Department as CPS.
There are reports that he is also expected to be expelled from the membership of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) for six years after serving him a show-cause notice. Sources said the action against another senior leader of the Congress from Punjab would also be taken soon by the party high command for violating the party discipline and making certain statements which the high command did not like.
Capt Amarinder Singh this evening requested the Governor, Gen S.F. Rodrigues, to relieve Mr Birmi from the office of Chief Parliamentary Secretary. The Governor immediately okayed the Chief Minister’s request, it is learnt. Immediately after the removal of Mr Birmi, reports regarding the possibility of a minor reshuffle in the State Council of Ministers
have also surfaced. Sources said there was the possibility of the removal of at least three ministers provided the high command gave the go ahead to Capt Amarinder Singh in this regard.
Mr Birmi has paid the price for his outburst against the president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo. A few days ago, he had spoken in a very harsh language against Mr Dullo and had levelled serious allegations of
bias, discrimination and collection of money against him. Mr Dullo, who kept quiet and did not react over Mr Birmi’s outburst, took up the issue with party high command which told Capt Amarinder Singh to remove Mr Birmi from the office held by him.
Sources said Mr Dullo had written to the party president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, and the party general secretary, Mr Janardan Diwevdi, drawing their attention towards the statement made by Mr Birmi. Acting Immediately on Mr Dullo’s complaint, the party high command asked Capt Amarinder Singh to take action against him.
The action against Mr Birmi has proved the fact that Mr Dullo’s writ runs at the party high command level. “ No one will now dare to violate the party discipline”, said a senior leader of the party commenting on the removal of Mr Birmi. In the past days, a war of statements had broken out within the ruling party in Punjab. It had hit the party image hard among people. Following war of statements, show-cause notices were issued to certain Congress leaders in the state.
Informed sources said the Mayor of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, Mr Nahar Singh Gill, had organised a function there some days ago. He had invited Mr Dullo at the function. Mr Birmi was also invited. However, Mr Birmi did not attend the function but later on made a scathing attack on Mr
Dullo, who had gone to the function.
