It was free-for-all in the Congress on Wednesday. Bringing to fore the infighting between the State party unit, a senior Congress leader and sitting MlA slapped his party colleague, in full public view.
Dera Baba Nanak MlA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa slapped Pathankot district chief of the party’s Sewa Dal (workers’ body) IS Gulati just before the arrival of state unit chief Capt Amarinder Singh for the first dharna in a series of protests against the SAD-BJP led State Government.
The slap was followed by a scuffle among party men at the show-of-strength rally.
Sources said the reason for the scuffle was a spot in the enclosure marked out as the stage. At the time when the people were entering the venue before the arrival of Capt Amarinder and other senior leaders, Gulati and his supporters tried to enter the enclosure made for VIPs, that irked Randhawa, who was conducting the stage.
In a heated argument that followed, Randhawa slapped Gulati, who tried to return the blow but missed.
The party men have to intervene to pacify the two leaders, but an agitated Gulati moved out of the venue.
That was not all! Randhawa’s supporters again clashed with Gulati and his men, who were raising slogans against the MlA, backstage. later on, Gulati’s group staged a dharna against Randhawa outside the venue.
Gulati later stated that he would meet All India Congress Committee (AICC) vice-president Rahul Gandhi to demand Randhawa’s removal from the party, otherwise he would leave the Congress.
Capt Amarinder, when reporters tried to ask him about the brawl, did not respond and moved out without answering media queries.