Days after Congress’ greenhorn Gidderbaha MlA Raja Amarinder Singh Warring barged into Sangat Darshan programme of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, the State Congress has asked its MlAs to follow in his footsteps — but in a polite manner.
Showering praises on the first time legislator, the state Congress leadership has issued a diktat to bring to bay the Chief Minister during his Sangat Darshans in their respective constituencies by raising issues and problems concerning people, and make them answerable right then.At the same time, the party has also made it clear to the legislators to not to share the dais with the Chief Minister. In all, over 45 Congress MlAs are not being invited to such Government functions.
Badal on Tuesday had faced awkward moments at his Sangat Darshan when Warring confronted him citing lack of development in his constituency. Accusing him of ignoring an elected representative, “uninvited” Warring waited for half an hour before the Chief Minister called him in after being frisked by the security staff.Warring accused the five-time Chief Minister of giving preferential treatment to people owing allegiance to SAD party, and even a local MlA, if he is from the Opposition party, doesn’t get a chance to talk at the event.Exhilarated by Warring’s “daring” act, the Congress MlAs have now been asked to present their grievances and public issues during sangat darshans.
“Warring has done an excellent job by exposing Badal in public during his sangat Darshan. Badal was exposed of his discriminatory attitude towards Congress legislator in execution of development works in their constituency,” said Punjab Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa.
From now on, the Congress MlAs would participate and raise public issues without sharing dais with the Chief Minister, who will be extended due respect for being the oldest politician. The MlAs will peacefully talk to Badal and will not create any ruckus.Notably, the development assumes significance as the SAD-BJP combine has been deputing their defeated candidates as “constituency in-charge” who distributes cheques, among other works, in an apparent attempt to marginalise Congress MlAs.
Interestingly, Muktsar Congress MlA Karan Kaur Brar on Thursday shared the dais with Badal at Bhalaiana village sangat darshan in Gidderbaha. When Brar visited Chief Minister, she was welcomed and asked to brief on the problems being faced by the people of her constituency. Badal not only listened carefully to Brar but also asked the district administration to find a solution to the issues raised by her.
Responding to development, Deputy Chief Minister and SAD chief Sukhbir Badal said that the repeated petitioning of Congress MlAs in Chief Minister’s novel program indicated its effectiveness at the ground level. “Nobody in Delhi or in Congress High Command recognized Congress MlAs and they know that if they raise an issue before Chief Minister Badal regarding their constituency, it would be effectively solved,” he said.
Sukhbir added that the Chief Minister welcomes every citizen of Punjab, irrespective of their party affiliation and it was imperative for Congress MlAs to get pending projects in various Union Ministries sanctioned expeditiously. “Every one is welcome in the Sangat Darshan if he is not coming to disrupt it to create media hype,” he added.