Sukhjinder Randhawa-Capt Amarinder duel gets personal

Chandigarh, October 22

The war of words between former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and the Congress over national security vis-à-vis Pakistan got personal today with Deputy CM and Home Minister Sukhjinder Randhawa terming former CM’s Pakistan friend Aroosa Alam a security threat due to her alleged ISI links.

Will probe ISI links

Why are you (Capt) so perturbed over probe on Aroosa and ISI links? Who sponsored her visa and everything concerning her will be probed. I do hope everyone concerned will co-operate with police in probe. — Sukhjinder Randhawa, Home Minister

Had govt clearance

You were a minister in my Cabinet. Never heard you complain about Aroosa. She’d been coming for 16 years with due GoI clearances. Or are you alleging both NDA and UPA govts connived with Pak ISI? — Capt Amarinder Singh, Ex-CM

Randhawa created a flutter in the political and administrative circles on Friday when he informed on his official Twitter handle that he had directed the DGP to probe Alam’s relation with the ISI. Later, Randhawa deleted the tweet and did not respond to calls.

He has stepped up attack on Captain Amarinder after the latter’s unceremonious exit as Chief Minister. Only yesterday, he had called the Captain Amarinder an “opportunist” after the former CM announced he would launch his own political party and indicated at a seat-sharing arrangement with the BJP in the Assembly polls if the farmers’ issue is resolved in their interest.

Captain Amarinder said Randhawa is now resorting to personal attacks. “Alam had been coming to India for 16 years with due Government of India clearances, Or are you alleging both the NDA and then UPA government in this period connived with Pak ISI?” the former CM sought to know. In a piece of advice to Randhawa, Captain Amarinder said a month had passed since he assumed his office in the Channi government. “This is all you have to show to the people. What happened to your tall promises on Bargari and drugs cases? Punjab is still waiting for your promised action,” said the former CM, adding instead of focusing on maintaining law and order, the Deputy CM had put the DGP on a “baseless investigation”. In a series of tweets, Randhawa later rebutted Captain Amarinder’s charges, saying: “It was you who failed to take the probe in Maur blast, Bargari sacrilege and drugs cases to logical conclusions. Rest assured, all these cases will be taken to logical conclusion in coming days.” To silence critics, the ex-CM later tweeted an old photograph of Aroosa meeting party chief Sonia Gandhi. — TNS