‘Punjab govt steered by Delhi’: AAP faces familiar attack over new advisory panel

The Opposition is now incensed with the government over the advisory panel, indicating that its terms of reference are such that a parliamentarian can be appointed its chairperson. The position won’t violate the rule under which a parliamentarian or legislator cannot take up any position that can be deemed an office of profit. As per the notification issued on Wednesday by Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Janjua, the committee chairperson and its members will not be entitled to any compensation or remuneration. “They shall not even be entitled to payments that are compensatory in reimbursements,” it added.

The notification fuelled speculation that the government was preparing to install AAP national leader Raghav Chadha as the committee’s chairperson. Chadha, who was co-in-charge of Punjab AAP ahead of the elections, was elected to the Rajya Sabha from the state. The Congress alleged that if it happened Chadha might “eventually end up as the de facto chief minister” of Punjab.

Questions have been raised about the role and the ambit of the body, given that its chairperson will be a part of official meetings and advise the government. “Chief Minister of Punjab has undertaken a review of the working of government at various levels and is of the view that a body (temporary in nature) is required to tender advice to the Government of Punjab on matters of public importance pertaining to Public Administration. Therefore, it has been decided to constitute a temporary Committee to advise the Government of State of Punjab on matters of public importance pertaining to Public Administration as and when such advice is sought from it,” read the notification.

Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring asked the government to “specify and spell out the motive and purpose behind this committee”, saying that the Mann government was trying to “outsource the governance to an ad hoc committee without any legal or constitutional mandate”.

Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa also claimed that the body was aimed at appointing Chadha the “regent of Punjab”.

“This means the Chief Minister is incapable of protecting the interests of every Punjabi. Now, the AAP government in Delhi will have a legitimate way to take control of Punjab, further reinforcing the perception that Bhagwant Mann is a subservient puppet of the Delhi Chief Minister,” he said.

A Punjab government spokesperson quickly hit back, saying that the allegations were “purely manufactured, motivated and without any basis”.