In what turns out to be a never-ending saga for the Congress party in Punjab, the re-induction of Kapurthala MLA and former Minister Rana Gurjit Singh in the new Cabinet more than three years after he stepped down in 2018 over alleged involvement in sand mining scandal, has raised another dust of rebellion within the party. In addition, his comeback in the Cabinet has also provided enough ammunition to the rivals to target the newly-formed Charanjit Singh Channi-led Government.
However, despite severe opposition — both from within and outside the party, Rana Gurjit managed to secure a Cabinet berth for himself. Attribute it to his closeness to the high command, or his capabilities, or to the regional balance, Rana Gurjit is part of the State Cabinet for the second time now.
Hours before Rana Gurjit was to take oath of office as Minister, seven leaders from Doaba region, including a former MP and seven legislators, strongly opposed his elevation. Led by former MP and Punjab Congress’ former president Mohinder Singh Kaypee, the leaders including Rana Gurjit’s bête noire Sukhpal Singh Khaira, wrote to the state party chief Navjot Singh Sidhu demanding that the Cabinet berth may instead be filled up “by giving representation to a clean dalit leader”. A copy of the letter has also been sent to the Chief Minister.
The leaders had also met Sidhu in Patiala ahead of the scheduled swearing in ceremony at Chandigarh.
In the letter, the Congress leaders — Kaypee, Sultanpur MLA Navtej Singh Cheema, Phagwara MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal, Jalandhar North MLA Bawa Henry, Chabbewal MLA Raj Kumar, Sham Churasi MLA Pawan Adiya, and Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira — minced no words to say that Rana Gurjit “is a known corrupt and tainted politician of Doaba”.
“We the undersigned MLAs and leaders of Doaba wish to convey huge resentment amongst the public and the Congress cadre on the proposed inclusion of tainted Rana Gurjit Singh...Needless to mention, he was dropped from the Cabinet in January 2018 due to the infamous mining scandal...,” they alleged in the letter while detailing various allegations which were made against Rana Gurjit at that time.
“We wonder why Rana Gurjit Singh is being included in Cabinet as he was dropped in January 2018 because of these charges..,” they wrote.
They also pointed out that despite the Doaba region having approximately 38 percent Dalit population, no representation in the Cabinet expansion has been given to a leader from the community.
Among MLAs from Doaba region inducted in the Cabinet include Pargat Singh and Rana Gurjit Singh.
“It is amusing that all three Ministers, proposed to be included in the Cabinet from Doaba region, are Jat Sikhs and one OBC…, whereas there is an approximately 38 percent Dalit population in this region,” they wrote.
“Therefore, we all request you to immediately drop Raja Gurjit Singh from the proposed Cabinet expansion and instead include a clean Dalit face in view of the upcoming elections,” they said in the letter.
Khaira, who was elected MLA on Aam Aadmi Party’s ticket but has now joined the Congress early this year, said: “We are deliberately giving a handle to the opposition to point fingers by including Rana Gurjit. By bringing him in the Cabinet, what impression will it give.”
Sources informed The Pioneer that Rana Gurjit’s proximity with the party’s central leadership helped him seal the deal.
Besides, it is believed the party high command zeroed in on his name considering to maintain a regional balance. Rana Gurjit, the richest legislator who hails from state’s Doaba region, was selected for the job considering his seniority, experience, and to give representation to Doaba region by the party.
Notably, both the Chief Minister and state unit president Navjot Singh Sidhu belong to the Malwa region, while the two Deputy Chief Ministers belong to the Majha region. Doaba region was under-represented. Now, it will have three Ministers in the Cabinet.
During his stint as Minister in Capt Amarinder Singh’s Cabinet, Rana Gurjit served as the Power and Irrigation Minister in 2017. He, however, got embroiled in an alleged scam over sand mine allocation, forcing him to resign in January 2018.