Ludhiana26 minutes agoAuthor: Dilbagh Danish
Despite all the efforts of the Congress high command, all is not well between Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Channi and state party chief Navjot Sidhu. The ‘distance’ between these two leaders sitting on the same couch was clearly visible in the first election rally of Punjab Congress held in Ludhiana on Monday.
Not only this, Sidhu was also seen threatening the Channi government in a way in his speech. He said that sand is still getting expensive in Punjab. He will die by getting it cheap and if it does not happen, he will resign. On the other hand, Channi, who came to give a speech after Sidhu, said that sand has been made cheap.
Told Captain Modi’s puppet
Three-and-a-half months ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections, the Congress on Monday kick-started its campaign by holding a rally in Ludhiana’s Atmanagar assembly constituency. When Sidhu’s turn came after the speeches of prominent leaders in the rally, he targeted the Punjab government and CM Channi several times in gestures.
In his 19-minute speech, Sidhu took Channi’s name four times. Sidhu said that the former Punjab CM was a puppet in the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was being made to dance by twisting his arms. Now the Congress high command has made Channi the CM.
I will get sand cheap
Threatening the Channi government in a way, Sidhu said that sand is still getting expensive in Punjab. 1000 sand trolley is being sold for Rs 3500 in the state. He will die by getting it cheap and if it does not happen, he will resign. Sidhu also said that Punjab cabinet minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu and Ludhiana Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu will work together to make a system to make sand cheap.
Super CM style
Sidhu, who introduced himself as the super-CM in Punjab, was seen giving credit for all the decisions being taken by the Channi government at the Ludhiana rally. The ‘I’ was dominant in his speech. He said, ‘I say don’t give me anything. But I will not cheat the people of Punjab. I screamed for six months on electricity and said reduce the tariff.
Our Chief Minister reduced the tariff. Electricity is available at Rs 12 per unit in Delhi and if I don’t bring Rs 5 then don’t say Sidhu’s name. This election is neither for Charanjit Singh Channi nor for me. I am fighting the next election for the coming generation. If I have deceived, misled or allowed you to be misled, then I am not the son of freedom fighter Sardar Bhagwant Singh. This time 13 points will be given and elections will be held on this and it will have to be accepted by the high command.
credited himself for cheap electricity
Sidhu said that the new government has reduced electricity prices, but in the very next line, he has also given the credit to himself. He said, ‘If I raised noise for this, today Punjab is getting the cheapest electricity. Now the industry also has to provide cheap electricity. The government has held a summit, but efforts will have to be made to stop the industry going out.
Talking about his Punjab model, Sidhu said that this model is the answer to every question of Kejriwal. He said that if the chairman and other 5000 government posts are given to the hardworking workers of Congress, then the government is sure to be formed. Today is the time to stand with Congress workers.
Channi said – I did the work of public interest
After Sidhu, Chief Minister Channi gave a speech. Channi, who took Sidhu’s name twice in his 19-minute address, rubbished his allegations of getting expensive sand as a kind of falsehood. Channi said, ‘I did the work of public interest as soon as I came to the government. First of all, sand was cheap. Earlier the sand which was selling at Rs.22 per square feet, now it is selling at Rs.5 and a half per square feet on the khad.
Electricity bills waived, now it’s the turn of the cable mafia
CM Channi said that his government waived the electricity bills of the people. Fixed water bills at Rs 50 per month per house. Tightening the transport mafia, stopped the illegally running buses. The next number is to take action on the cable mafia.
Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Punjab Congress President Navjot Sidhu and other leaders giving a message of solidarity by raising each other’s hands at the Punjab Congress rally in Ludhiana on Monday.
Sidhu-Chani were seen far and wide even after being close by
Chief Minister Charanjit Channi and State Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu came together on stage at 1.29 pm and came down at 3.05 pm. When Channi bowed after reaching the stage, Sidhu signaled to hit a cricket shot with his hands. After this, all the leaders raised each other’s hands and gave the message of being united, but with the release of hands, the distance between them started appearing.
Sidhu and Channi stayed on the stage for one and a half hours in the rally, but did not see each other even once. CM sat on one corner of the ‘three-seater’ sofa on the stage and Sidhu sat on the other corner. Channi spent most of the time talking to Punjab Congress in-charge Harish Choudhary sitting on the sofa next to him.
Congress MLA Kuldeep Singh Vaidya of Gill assembly seat of Ludhiana and Ludhiana MP Ravneet Bittu went to Sidhu and talked to him.
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