Punjab Cabinet rejig: Controversial statements land Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjer, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal in trouble
Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjer had to resign as local bodies minister, while Dhaliwal lost his two important departments - Agriculture and Rural Development and Panchayats.
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Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjer (left), Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal (right). (FB/ Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal) The Punjab Cabinet reshuffle that took place on Wednesday cost dear to two ministers who put the AAP-led state government in a state of embarrassment with their controversial statements. One of the ministers lost his Cabinet berth while the other had to lose his two key portfolios.
Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjer had to resign as local bodies minister following a controversy over calling Ajit newspaper’s editor-in-chief Barjinder Singh Hamdard an honest man, after Vigilance had summoned him in connection with Jang-E-Azadi memorial funds.
Meanwhile, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal lost his two important departments – Agriculture and Rural Development and Panchayats – for stating that he would speak to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to include IELTS in the curricula of colleges and universities. Dhaliwal’s remarks on IELTS in the university curriculum had come at a time when CM Mann has been stressing on reversing the brain drain and exhorting the youth of the state to stay put. Sources said that his remarks had upset the Chief Minister.
In the portfolio reshuffle that took place on Wednesday, Punjab CM Mann inducted two MLAs as ministers and allotted them important portfolios – Agriculture to Gurmeet Singh Khudian, and Local Government to Balkar Singh.
Besides Local Government, Balkar Singh has got Parliamentary Affairs department also. Both these departments were earlier held by Dr Nijjer, who resigned on Tuesday. With the state government gearing up for elections to urban local bodies, Local Government is being considered an important department.
Khudian was given Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Dairy Development and Food Processing.
Dhaliwal, who earlier looked after the Agriculture department, has now been handed over a less important Administrative Reforms. He has however retained his NRI Affairs department.
Administrative reforms was earlier under Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, who has retained his Water Resources, Mines and Geology, Science and Technology, Sports and Youth Services, Conservation of Land and Water.
Dhaliwal’s Rural Development and Panchayats department has been handed over to Laljit Singh Bhullar, who already has Transport portfolio.
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