Even as Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh is trying to patch things up between his angered Cabinet colleagues and the state Chief Secretary, the rapprochement between the two sides seems to be a distant dream.
Troubles continued to brew for the Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh as the Cabinet Ministers refused to budge from their stand, while several other Congress leaders — including a Cabinet Minister, an MP and about eight MLAs — demanding an inquiry in the revenue losses for the past three years by the Excise Department.
Choosing a middle path, the Chief Minister made an effort, a day before, to resolve the issue by divesting Karan Avtar of the additional charge of the Financial Commissioner (Excise and Taxation).
That was not all! The Chief Minister also sent his emissaries to placate the Cabinet Ministers Manpreet Singh Badal and Charanjit Singh Channi — the two who had lead the charge against the Chief Secretary’s “rude behavior” and wrong “attitude” and also raised the matter during the Cabinet.
However, the party leaders stick to their stand, and in fact, insisted on ordering a probe.
Upset with the Chief Secretary’s “rude behaviour” during the pre-Cabinet meeting on Saturday to discuss the amendments in the 2020-21 excise policy before the Cabinet meeting to be presided by the Chief Minister, all the Cabinet Ministers “walked out” of the meeting.
During Monday’s Cabinet meeting, all the Cabinet Ministers unanimously resolved not to attend any cabinet meeting in the presence of Karan Avtar. In an unprecedented move, the Ministers, led by Manpreet, told the Chief Minister that they will boycott the top official because of his “rude and wrong behaviour”.
Channi had, in fact accused the Chief Secretary of having ‘conflict of interest’ saying that his son Harman Singh had business interests in liquor contracts in Punjab, and was also involved in mining activity earlier.
Taking note of the allegations, the CM withdrew the additional charge of Financial Commissioner, Taxation, from the Chief Secretary and handed it to 1991-batch IAS officer A Venu Prasad. Since Prasad is on leave, the charge is temporarily being held by Principal Secretary (Finance) Anirudh Tiwari. However, Karan Avtar continues to be the Chief Secretary.
Apparently not satisfied with Karan Avtar’s ouster from Taxation Department, the party men, including critics of Capt Marinder, have demanded a probe. To resolve the matter, Capt Amarinder’s trusted soldier, Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa, in the meantime, visited Channi to convince him to bury the hatchet with the Chief Secretary. It has been learnt that the Chief Minister had also talked to him and tried to convince him, but in no vain.
Some reports suggest that Bajwa had even “warned” Channi to resolve the issue at the earliest, if not, skeletons may fall from the closet, while hinting at more than a year old “me too” controversy involving a female IAS officer.
However, Bajwa has categorically denied of having said anything like that during his meeting with Channi. Despite repeated attempts, Channi could not be contacted.
CONG MEN MOUNTING PRESSURE ON CAPT
Unconvinced by Karan Avtar Singh’s ouster from the Taxation department, the Congress leaders have opened a front against their own government in demanding inquiry against the Chief Secretary.
Raised by the Congress’ young gun Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, legislator from Gidderbaha, the issue of ‘conflict of interest’ against Karan Avtar and probing the same, the demand was supported by the Cabinet Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa besides several other legislators blaming him for the “excise revenue losses” to the State.
Warring had asked the Chief Minister to remove Karan Avtar from the Chief Secretary’s post so that the he does not influence an inquiry.
He had alleged that the Excise Department had suffered a revenue loss of over Rs 600 crore in recent years.
“I agree with @RajaBrar_INC and appeal honourable Chief Minister Punjab @capt_amarinder to initiate enquiry so that someone has to be held responsible for the revenue loss for last 3 yrs of Excise department,” tweeted Randhawa on Wednesday.
Randhawa was among the Ministers who had staged a walkout against the Chief Secretary for his alleged misbehaviour while discussing the excise policy.
Only a day before, Bajwa had also demanded robe in the matter by a central agency. “If you do not allow for a fair probe, Punjabis will continue to question our Govt in the State on its record on corruption. We must lead the way in ensuring transparency…Call for an independent investigation into conflict of interest allegations immediately,” Bajwa had tweeted addressing to the Chief Minister.
On Wednesday, Warring’s demand for a probe was also backed by at least seven other MLAs —Sangat Singh Gilzian (Urmur), Raj Kumar Verka (Amritsar West), Kulbir Singh Zira (Zira), Barinder Singh Pahra (Gurdaspur), Fatehjung Bajwa (Qadian), Balwinder Singh Laddi (Hargobindpur Sahib) and Joginder Pal (Bhoa).
Fatehjung, brother of Partap Singh Bajwa, tweeted that a media report has suggested that his family had a “personal interest” in the excise department. “Justice should be delivered to general public,” he tweeted.