Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Friday said a probe has been ordered to find out whether Pakistani journalist Arusa Alam, a longtime personal friend of Captain Amarinder Singh, has links with the ISI. The deposed Chief Minister reacted sharply.
In a now-deleted tweet, Randhawa, who also holds the Home portfolio, claimed that Singh has been a friend of Alam for years, and that she lived in India for several years and her visa was extended from time to time by the Centre.
Randhawa also referred to Singh’s previous statements as chief minister when he expressed concern over Punjab facing threats from across the border with the seizure of several drones and ammunition.
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“Arosa was in India for four and a half years and her visa was also extended from time to time. Why didn’t Delhi cancel his visa? Why did he leave India when we went against Amarinder Singh?” he asked, referring to the latter’s expulsion after a sharp break-up with the rival Navjot Singh Sidhu-led Punjab Congress.
Randhawa deleted his tweet after a while, but Amarinder Singh responded quickly, questioning why the deputy CM is making claims now and not raising them when he was a minister in his cabinet.
“You were a minister in my cabinet @Sukhjinder_INC. You’ve never heard a complaint about Arosa Alam. And she was coming for 16 years with the approval of the Government of India. Or are you alleging that NDA and @INCIndia led UPA governments colluded with Pak ISI during this period? Singh’s media advisor quoted him as saying on Twitter.
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The former CM also accused Randhawa of resorting to “personal attacks”. “So now you are resorting to personal attacks @Sukhjinder_INC. A month after taking over, that’s all you have to show people. What happened to all your big promises on Bargai and drugs? Punjab is still waiting for your promised works,” he said.
“I am concerned about @sukhjinder_inc that instead of focusing on maintaining law and order at a time when terror threat is high and festivals are near, you have put @DGP Punjab Police on baseless investigation. Security of Punjab,” he said.
On Tuesday, Singh said he would soon form his own political party and was hopeful of seat-sharing with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in next year’s Punjab Assembly elections if the farmers’ issue is resolved in their interest. is done. Randhawa had accused the former chief minister of betraying Punjab and favoring those who never thought about the welfare of the state.
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