The rift between Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh and MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu widened further, with Amarinder Singh challenging his former minister to contest against him from Patiala and lose his security deposit like Gen JJ Singh. The Chief Minister while referring to Sidhu being offensive against him over shoddy investigation in the SIT probe in to Kotkapura police firing case, said, “If Sidhu has doubt on my capability to lead the government, he should test the ground by contesting election against me from Patiala.” The Chief Minister was talking in the context of reports of Sidhu being active in Patiala and his wife Dr Navjot Singh Sidhu contesting from Patiala (Rural). Replying to CM’s attack on him, Navjot Singh Sidhu in a tweet said , “Efforts to derail Punjab’s conscience will fail … My Soul is Punjab and Punjab’s Soul is Guru Granth Sahib Ji … Our fight is for Justice & punishing the guilty, an assembly seat is not even worth discussion in the same breathe!!” By attacking the Congress Chief Minister of his own government, Sidhu wants to join some other party, said Capt. Amarinder, adding, “But neither BJP nor Akalis will take Sidhu. He has limited choice; either stay in the Congress or join AAP.”
AAP GOVT’S EMBARRASSMENT OVER ASHOKA HOTEL
Hours after being reprimanded by the Delhi High Court, the Delhi government on Tuesday evening said it was withdrawing an order that had allocated 100 rooms in the Ashoka Hotel for high court judges and judicial officers. As per the order, the hotel was to be converted into a Covid care facility for the judges. “Issued directions to withdraw this order immediately,” Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia tweeted. While the mystery of who in the Delhi government issued the order for setting up 100 beds at the five-star Ashoka Hotel deepens. Neither Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal nor Delhi’s Health Minister Satyender Jain seem to be aware of it. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia seemed to have looked at the order and asked it to be rescinded. Why is AAP government silent if it had nothing to do with it? Who took the decision in the first place? Who issued the order?
PRIYANKA EYES PAN-INDIA APPEAL
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is trying innovative methods to take her message across the country. On Tuesday she posted a note on her Facebook account titled ‘We shall overcome’ on the massive Covid surge. She argued that the government has failed us all and asked the people to support each other in this time of crisis. On Wednesday the note was translated to multiple languages Tamil, Malayalam, Odia and Bangla and circulated by the party. Priyanka is trying to reach out to people outside Uttar Pradesh and create a pan India image.
TAPPING EX-SERVICE TALENT TO FIGHT COVID
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday called up all Governors and Lieutenant Governors of states and UTs individually asking them to utilise the expertise of ex-servicemen across the country. Rajnath has asked the Governors and L-Gs to urge their state governments to use the recently retired armed forces personal including doctor and nursing staff in fighting the pandemic. According to sources, there is a shortage of trained manpower across the country as the crisis is getting bigger, which is why Rajnath asked the Governors to talk to the state government and follow up action has already been initiated in certain states.
YOUTH CONGRESS INITIATIVE WINS PRAISE
Youth Congress leader BV Srinivas has earned a reputation for his commitment towards helping people in distress as a result of the Covid pandemic. He has set up a monitoring system and launched a youth Congress helpline on Twitter, which patients to get admission to hospitals and deliver oxygen cylinders and life-saving medicines to people’s doorstep. Although his dedication has earned Srinivas the image of a do-gooder, he respond humbly saying that the Rahul Gandhi team was responsible for the work. The buzz is that Srinivas may get a bigger role in the party in future. (IPA)