Attacked by rivals, the Congress legislators on Monday fought among themselves.
In the absence of the Leader of the House and Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, the Congress legislators were seen arguing with each other, blaming one another for not reacting to the Akalis’ sloganeering — exposing total lack of planning and coordination.
Cabinet Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Congress MLA Kulbir Zira take on their own MLAs, when the House was adjourned for half an hour, for not taking on the SAD-BJP MLAs for sloganeering against the Gandhi family.
As the Speaker Rana KP Singh adjourned the House after the SAD-BJP and AAP MLAs were protesting in the well of the House over the DGP’s remarks and allegations against Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Randhawa lashed out at his fellow MLAs for not even responding and “just sitting” when the Akalis shouted slogans against the Gandhi family.
Zira, the first time MLA, was also seen coming down heavily on party MLAs for not responding when the Akalis were “attacking the Gandhi family”.
Unhappy, former Minister and senior leader Rana Gurjit Singh pointed Zira to mind his words, after which the two entered into an argument. Gidderbaha MLA Amarinder Singh Raja Warring pacified Zira. “They complain that they are not being heard…and now, they are not speaking when they need to,” said irated Zira.
“Sayaaneyaan da matlab eh nahi ke gaalliyaan khaayi jaan (Being mature does not mean that we should not react to abuses),” said Rana Gurjit.
Soon, the Congress leaders, led by Randhawa, Warring, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra, Power Minister Gurpreet Kangar, among others, were seen huddling together to devise the further strategy. Ghanaur MLA Madan Lal Jalalpur was also heard speaking against the flourishing business of the Badal family owned PTC.
He insisted on raising the issue in the House “only today”. As the Higher Education Minister Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa tried to mollify him by saying that he should speak in the Congress party, Jalalpur said nobody listens. “Congress kehda sundi hai…sab mile hoye ne (Even the Congress does not listen…all are hand-in-glove),” he said.
Resentment among the ruling party is prevailing and has been reflect by several leaders in the recent past.
Congress Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh has also shot off a letter to the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh pointing at the non fulfillment of the party’s pre poll promises, besides an attempt to cover-up several corruption cases. In fact, during the Congress Legislative Party, on the first day of the budget session, the legislators minced no words to show mirror to the Chief Minister. The MLAs vented out their frustrations against the Congress Government.
That is not all! Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa has also pinpointed several issues against his own government including cancellation of power purchase agreements with the private players. On PPAs’ issue, Capt Amarinder’s loyalist and Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar has also demanded action from the Government.