Punjab: After the much-agitated situations in the state ruling party, all crises that led to the turmoil seemed to be resolved on Thursday after CM Charanjit Singh agreed on “contentious’ appointments. After the three-hour-long meeting, the newly formed cabinet preceded the decision of the appointment of an Advocate General to the High Command.
According to sources, a list of names was forwarded to the high command for the post of DGP to the UPSC. The panel of names stems from opposition by Sidhu that demanded the removal of Advocate General A P S Deol on the grounds that he was a defence lawyer of the former DGP Sumedh Saini, who had been charged for Punjab Vigilance.
In another appointment, Sidhu also opposed the selection of DGP Sahota stating that he headed the SIT investigating Beadhbhi case under the Badal govt. Taking to his microblogging account, he wrote – “DGP IPS Sahota was head of SIT investigating Beadbi case under Badal Govt, he wrongfully indicted two Sikh youth for sacrilege & gave clean chit to Badals. In 2018, I along with INC Ministers, then PCC Pres & present Home Minister assured them of our support in fight for Justice.”
Sidhu had been backing DGP Siddharth Chattopadhayaya who retires on March 31, 2022. As per the directions by the SC, an officer of the state govt’s panel has to have at least six months of service left. However, both sides agreed on a three-member panel comprising CM Channi, the PPCC chief and AICC General Secretary in-charge Harish Rawat to take collective decisions so that there are no conflicts in future. It is now speculated that Navjot Singh Sidhu would return to take charge as the party chief.
Sidhu after his resignation had arrived in Chandigarh on Thursday to meet Channi in presence of Congress Central Observer Harish Chaudhary.