Minister to meet CM over MLA’s outburst

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 24

A day after legislator Kulbir Zira raised a banner of revolt against Education Minister Aruna Chaudhary over the posting of DEO’s, the Congress leadership went into a damage-control mode.

Though Zira had sought an appointment with the Chief Minister, the meeting could not be fixed as the latter had cancelled all his appointments for the day.

On the other hand, the Minister said, “The manner in which the MLA talked to me was not right. He should know how to interact with a senior MLA. I am taking up the matter with the CM.”

Zira went to the extent of alleging kickbacks to transfer the education department employees after his request for fresh posting of DEO was ignored while favouring the recommendation made by Guru Harshai MLA Rana Gurmit Sodhi.

Ensuring that the belligerent MLA did not go public with further disclosures, PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar and senior MLA Sukhjinder Randhawa held a closed-door discussion with Zira to understand his view point.

Refusing to divulge details of the meeting, Jakhar said there was a communication gap that was being rectified.

“There were some issues of first-time MLAs which were being taken up with the government functionaries and ministers concerned. He has been placated. He has agreed not to issue any further statements,” said a senior leader who took part in the meeting.

It was being felt in the party circles that due to a communication gap, the senior and influential MLA’s exert pressure to get their work done leaving those with less clout and first timers fuming.