Capt Amarinder Singh: No intention of staying in Congress, but will not join BJP

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 30

Former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday said he was quitting the Congress but would not join the BJP. “I have no intention of continuing in the Congress. I will resign,” said the veteran, who met National Security Adviser Ajit Doval a day after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

CWC meeting soon, says cong leader

AICC general secretary and media chief Randeep Surjewala said a Congress Working Committee meeting would be held soon and party chief Sonia Gandhi had indicated the same before leaving for Shimla recently on a short vacation. 

‘Planned’ hooliganism irks G-23 leaders

Several Congress leaders of the “Group of 23”, who had written to party chief Sonia Gandhi demanding an organisational overhaul, have termed the attack on Kapil Sibal’s house as “orchestrated hooliganism”. Anand Sharma sought action against the miscreants.

Captain said he had flagged the security situation in Punjab where Pakistan was fomenting trouble by sending weapons through drones. “The Congress is going downhill with senior leaders completely ignored. I will leave the Congress where I have been ‘utterly humiliated’ and was not trusted. I will not be treated in this manner. I will not take such insults,” the 79-year-old leader said.

The former CM said he was still thinking through his options and that Punjab’s security was his top priority. “The 2022 elections will be very different with AAP, SAD, Congress and may be another force in the fray. But historically, Punjab has voted for one party,” he observed, claiming that AAP had gained ground and the Congress had gone down “ever since Navjot Sidhu became PCC chief.” On farmers’ issues, he said: “I have suggested to the Home Minister to resolve the matter at the earliest and as a long-term solution recommended a compensation package for Punjab to encourage crop diversification. With such a package, the state can pay MSP for other crops too,” he said, indicating that he may emerge as the face of the farm issue resolution with BJP’s support.

On the Punjab crisis, Captain warned that misgovernance would give Pakistan a chance to create further disturbances. “CM Charanjit Channi is an intelligent leader, provided Navjot Sidhu lets him function,” he said, describing Sidhu a mere crowd puller “who can’t take his team along.”

Condemning the attack on party leader Kapil Sibal’s house by some Congress workers, he said: “Seniors are being ignored. This is not good for the party.”