New Delhi: Amid the ongoing political crisis in the Congress Punjab unit, former state CM Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday evening met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence in the national capital. The meeting further fueled speculation of the former joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
However, hours after the vigorous meeting, Singh’s media advisor said that the two leaders discussed the farmers’ long agitation against the three agriculture laws of the Centre.
Even Singh tweeted after his 45-minute long meeting with the senior BJP leader: “Met Union Home Minister Amit Shahji in Delhi. Discussion on the long-running farmers’ agitation against agricultural laws and urged them to urgently resolve the crisis with repeal of laws. In addition to supporting Punjab in crop diversification, guarantee MSP. #NoFarmersNoFood
However, many experts are of the view that the politically significant meeting could be a major cause for concern for the Congress, which is already going through a huge turmoil in Punjab.
Singh resigned as the Chief Minister of Punjab after accusing the Congress of humiliating him.
Earlier, there were reports that an angry Amarinder Singh is likely to meet Shah, but Singh’s office denied the claims. Sources close to news agency IANS said that the two leaders discussed several issues including national security, farmers’ agitation and the current political situation in Punjab.
There is speculation that Singh may join the saffron party or form his own outfit ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections due in early 2022.
The BJP has already welcomed the Captain saying that he is a nationalist and all nationalists are welcome in the party.
“Amarinder Singh is basically a nationalist and he always stood for nationalist issues. Apart from his political agenda, he always stood for nationalist issues. All nationalists are welcome to meet the Home Minister. On one hand, Congress has Has insulted a nationalist soldier. And on the other hand, it includes a member of ‘tukde tukde gang’. Our doors are open to all nationalists,” BJP national spokesperson RP Singh said.
Meanwhile, the Congress also reacted to the Singh-Shah meeting, with Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleging that Amit Shah’s residence has become a hotbed of anti-Dalit politics.
In a series of tweets in Hindi, he said, “The ego of those in power is hurt. Because if a Dalit is made chief minister, they ask who is taking decisions in Congress.”
Sources close to news agency PTI have even said that the former Punjab CM has also discussed the internal security situation in Punjab with Shah.
Singh has been claiming that instability in Punjab could give Pakistan an opportunity to create unrest in the border state.
He accused Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu of being “close to (Pakistani Prime Minister) Imran Khan” and accused him of being “dangerous” to a state that shares a border with a notorious neighboring country.
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