Captain under fire from own MLAs at PCC chief’s meeting

Leading the attack, former irrigation minister Gurchet Singh Bhullar pointed out how powerless they had been rendered under the present regime.

‘‘I have four thanas in my constituency, but I cannot even get an SHO transferred,’’ he lamented.

Other voices joined the chorus of dissent.

Kharar MLA Bir Devinder, Raj Kumar Gupta from Jalandhar, Raj Kumar from Verka, Gurcharan Singh from Dirba and Vijay Sathi from Moga, all wanted major improvements in the government’s style of functioning. ‘‘If we cannot get our own work done, how will be help our voters?’’ was the continuous refrain.

The legislators also flayed the Congress alliance with the Left parties.

Interestingly, particularly critical of Amarinder were those Congress candidates who had been defeated in the previous Assembly elections.

Immediately after the meeting, a Congress MLA told The Indian Express that it was time the government made some drastic changes.

‘‘If a change in Punjab Congress chief can transform the Congress Bhawan, why not bring some change in the secretariat itself,’’ questioned a prominent dissident MLA.

Though Amarinder had chosen the Congress meeting eve to announce free power, it did not help deflect criticism.

The meeting seemed to provide a platform for the anti-Amarinder sentiment in the Congressmen, which has been on the ebb for some time now.

Except ministers who went to some length to defend the government, the Congress Bhawan resonated with anger. Besides Amarinder, deputy chief minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who is reportedly away to Australia, also stayed away.

Harnam Das Johar, Jagmohan Singh Kang and Rakesh Pandey were among the others conspicuous by their absence.

Dullo: Delhi watching, more sops soon

The Punjab Congress chief S S Dullo said the government was all set to woo urban voters as well. He hinted at the abolition of octroi and reduction in sewerage and water supply. Reiterating that the party high command is watching the situation carefully, He said that he, too, is informing the party about the performance of various ministers.

Dullo said farmers using diesel pumpsets would be given relief on the same lines as that on power supply. Similarly, the government would also deal with problems of employees.