Punjab CM Channi meets Navjot Sidhu hours after PCC chief made letter to Sonia public

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 17

Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi on Sunday met PPCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu in the presence of AICC observer Harish Chaudhary here.

Cabinet minister Pargat Singh, who is also general secretary (organisation), PPCC, was present in the meeting that took place at guest house of Punjab Raj Bhavan here.

The meeting was a follow-up of Sidhu’s meeting with AICC general secretary KC Venugopal and Punjab affairs in-charge Harish Rawat on October 14, followed by a meeting with party leader Rahul Gandhi.

Party high command had categorically told both Sidhu and CM Channi had been asked to sit together and iron the issues that have become bone of contention between the two leaders.

The meeting happened hours after Sidhu made public a letter written to party president, seeking a personal meeting on 13-point Punjab agenda.

On September 30, a three-member panel comprising CM Charanjit Singh Channi, Navjot Singh Sidhu and AICC general secretary in-charge of Punjab affairs was decided upon to resolve the impasse over official appointments besides other issues. However, no formal orders were issued in this regard.

This decision was taken at a meeting between the CM, Sidhu, Punjab affairs incharge Harish Rawat on September 30.

It was then decided that the three-member panel would meet at least once a week to discuss key government decisions and appointments, indicating that Sidhu would be involved in the decision-making exercise.

Giving officiating charge of DGP Vigilance to Siddharth Chattopadhyaya was in line with Sidhu’s demand, who wanted to make him DGP.