Bhagwant Mann absent, Kejriwal meets Punjab officials, kicks up a political storm

A day later on Tuesday, Mann met AAP chief. Mann was in Delhi to meet President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu.

Later Mann tweeted to say that he had a good meeting with Kejriwal, adding that he would soon give good news to the people of the state. Responding to Mann on Twitter, Kejriwal wrote: “We will work together to change Delhi, Punjab and the entire country.”

But this did not stop the opposition from gunning for the AAP government in the state.

While Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal dubbed “Kejriwal’s meeting” as “unconstitutional and unacceptable”, Congress Legislative Party leader Partap Singh Bajwa claimed that people of the state did not vote for the government which was to be “remote controlled” from Delhi.

“Punjab CM @BhagwantMann ji should inform us of Delhi CM & Ministers have indeed been meeting with our officers in absence of CM & Pb Ministers. If so, this is a terrible violation of our rights as a state. The people of Pb did not vote for Govt to be remote controlled from Delhi,” said Bajwa in his tweet.

Taking a dig at the AAP, Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring asked whether senior state officials will have to be present in Kejriwal’s ‘darbar’.

Referring to the meeting, Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu said it is a “breach of federalism”.

“Punjabs IAS officers summoned by @ArvindKejriwal in CM @BhagwantMann’s absence. This exposes the Defacto CM & Delhi remote control. Clear breach of federalism, insult to Punjabi pride. Both must clarify,” said Sidhu in his tweet.

Attacking Mann, former minister and senior Congress leader Rana Gurjeet Singh said: “Mann Sahab is not only the Aam Aadmi Party’s Chief Minister, but that of three crore Punjabis and Kejriwal has humiliated all the Punjabis by sidelining him…Not that we didn’t know that this will happen, but this will happen so soon and in such a blatant manner was surprising.”

He added:“I am sure, as a self respecting Punjabi, Mann Sahab will lodge a strong protest against Kejriwal and ensure that this does not happen again.”

SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema said: “We have heard a lot about Delhi as Union government interfering into the internal affairs of the states. But, it is for the first time that we are seeing Delhi, as state government directly interfering into the internal affairs of Punjab Govt,” said Cheema.

Former CM Amarinder Singh called Bhagwant Mann a “rubber stamp.”

“Worst was feared, worst happened. @ArvindKejriwal has taken over Punjab much before it was expected to happen. That @BhagwantMann is a rubber stamp was a foregone conclusion already, now Kejriwal has proved it right by chairing Punjab officers’ meeting in Delhi,” said Singh in his tweet.

However, when asked about the meeting, Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar on Tuesday said the meeting, even if it was held, should not be made into an issue as Kejriwal is the AAP’s national convener.

AAP spokesperson in Punjab, Malwinder Kang, said: “People come from far and wide to see the Kejriwal model of governance. If he has held an informal meeting which is for the benefit of the people of Punjab, then it should be welcomed.”

Punjab Cabinet to meet today

After the meeting between AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and officials of the Punjab Power department the state government may take up the agenda of 300 units of free power to the residents in the Cabinet meeting scheduled for Wednesday.

“If all goes well, the announcement could well be made tomorrow. The announcement however would burden the state exchequer heavily. Let us see,” an official of the government said.

He added that the issue of amendment in section of the law providing for 1 per cent Rural Development Fund (RDF) for waiving off farm loans, may also be taken up in the meeting tomorrow.

The Centre has objected to the amendment Act enacted by the previous Congress government and has been holding back RDF worth Rs 1,100 crore.