Contrasting messages emerge from 50-minute long meeting between Punjab CMs Bhagwant Mannu and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu amidst media glare at the Secretariat on Monday.
Sidhu, in his style, described the meeting as “a new milestone in Punjab politics where the ruling party and the opposition can work together to rebuild the state.” He not only addressed the media but also tweeted.
Spent the most constructive 50 minutes… Repeated the pro-Punjab agenda that I have stood for for years… talked about the means to generate income, this is the only solution to end the problem of Punjab… CM @Bhagwant Mann Were very receptive… assured that he would fulfill the aspirations of the people… pic.twitter.com/BH77c1QFNX— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sheryontopp) 9 May 2022
In contrast, neither Mann nor his ministers talked much about the meeting. Even off-the-record party sources said nothing much should be read into it.
Interestingly, barely minutes before the meeting, Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar was seen making fun of Sidhu. “Our CM is such a big hearted person that he even agreed to meet Sidhu, hara hoya, nakara hoya aam aadmi (a defeated non-entity) who is not even a minister, MLA or MP. See the difference… During Congress and before that Akali rule, they did not give time to any AAP leader. But our CM shows no arrogance,” Bhullar said.
He even took a dig at Sidhu’s party, citing messages emanating from his colleagues. “His party colleagues have made vague statements. Some say that he sought time from the CM, others say that the CM called Sidhu and still others say that Sidhu contacted the Governor of Punjab, who in turn forwarded Sidhu’s letter to the CM and suggested a meeting between the two. They should at least be consistent when it comes to meeting.”
On the contrary, Sidhu was all praise for Mann. “There has been no change in Mann after becoming the chief minister. He was polite and listened to my suggestions,” said the Congress leader after the meeting.
Interestingly, Sidhu did not miss an opportunity to strike again at the Congress and his party allies, when he said that a minister who wanted to take action against those encroaching on government land was himself to blame.
Sources said that looking at the opposite signs, it seems very unlikely. state congress president Arvind Kejriwal’s party was headed amidst reports that the Congress is considering options to take disciplinary action against him.
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