Newly appointed Punjab Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu on Tuesday called on Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh, demanding immediate action on some of the key issues amongst the 18-point agenda set down by the party high command for the Amarinder regime to fulfil ahead of the Assembly elections in 2022.
Sidhu, who met Amarinder along with working presidents Kuljit Nagra, Sangat Singh Gilzian, Sukhwinder Singh Danny and Pawan Goel, later tweeted: “Met CM Punjab to demand immediate action on longstanding issues concerning the people of Punjab... Echoing sentiment of lakhs of Congress Workers from across Punjab!!”
The cricketer-turned-politician submitted to Amarinder a letter enlisting five issues from amongst the 18-point agenda for immediate action by his government. In the letter signed by him and the four working presidents, Sidhu wrote, “Today, Punjab needs a stern, decisive, inclusive and compassionate leadership more than ever before to fulfil genuine demands of every Punjabi. Punjab Congress workers stand firm in their resolve with our esteemed High Command's 18-point agenda – our guide book to deliver justice to every Punjabi.”
He further wrote that after multiple deliberations and consultations with party workers across Punjab to understand the public sentiment, he and the working presidents have shortlisted five priority areas that the government must act upon immediately amongst the 18 points.
On top of the agenda, as per the letter, is the sacrilege issue and the police firing on people protesting against the alleged desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib. “People of Punjab demand justice for Punjab's soul by punishing the main culprits behind the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib Ji and police firing incidents at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan,” read the letter.
Sidhu has also demanded in the letter that the “big fish” in the drug trafficking racket in Punjab as mentioned in the STF report be immediately arrested and given exemplary punishment.
The letter demanded that the Vidhan Sabha adopt a resolution to reject the three contentious farm laws, by announcing that they will not be implemented in Punjab at any cost. “Not merely recommend amendments to a few clauses in the three 'black laws', but reject them completely by announcing that they will not be implemented in Punjab at any cost,” Sidhu wrote.
Amongst the issues is the need to fulfil the 2017 election promise to cancel “faulty” power purchase agreements without any further loss to the state exchequer.
Sidhu also raised the issue of more than 20 unions of teachers, doctors, nurses, line men and safai karmcharis protesting across the state.
“A compassionate leadership that is ready to listen and take steps for inclusive development of all is needed. Government must open doors for discussion, consultation and deliver what it can, considering its fiscal means immediately,” said the letter.
The letter rounded off the wish list with the remark, “Nothing great was ever achieved without an act of decision. We request you to act immediately.”
It was apparent from the letter that Sidhu's effort is to convey the impression that he is setting the agenda for the Amarinder government in the run up to elections. He wants to send out the message that he, as state Congress president, is keen that the promises made in the previous state polls, are kept. This is a bid to distance the party from the supposed failures of the Amarinder regime.
On the other hand, the chief minister's media advisor Raveen Thukral tweeted, quoting the chief minister as having told Sidhu and others at today's meeting, that “All key issues you've raised are already in advanced stages of resolution by my government.”
“We've been working on them in close coordination with the party,” Amarinder was quoted as having said in the meeting.
