Revolt in Congress over Punjab govt's decision to give jobs to party MLAs' sons
The five Cabinet ministers who have opposed the decision include Charanjeet Singh Channi, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Sukhbir Singh Sarkaria, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Razia Sultana.The decision has also been opposed by two Congress MLAs -- Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Kuljit Singh Nagra -- and Youth Congress chief Barinder Dhillon.
Sunil Jakhar has appealed to the Chief Minister to rethink and cancel the appointments as the decision can dent the party's campaign in 2022 Punjab Assembly elections.It would not be proper to keep recent appointments made on compassionate grounds in the same league. Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh should relook at the decision and immediately rescind the appointments in greater public interest," Jakhar said.Cabinet recently decided to provide jobs to the sons of two former party MLAs on compassionate grounds. While Bhisham Pandey, son of former Ludhiana MLA Rakesh Pandey has been appointed as Naib Tehsildar and Arjun Partap Singh Bajwa son of former Quadian MLA Fateh Jung Singh Bajwa has been given the job of a police inspector.The Shiromani Akali Dal has accused the Congress-led Punjab government of “purchasing” the loyalty of Congress legislators to prevent infighting and alleged that CM Capt Amarinder Singh is trying to “save his chair by doling out jobs to their wards illegally.” The party also urged the Punjab governor to dismiss the Congress government by taking suo motu notice of the matter.He said if the governor did not take action in the matter, the President should take note of the “unconstitutional” appointments and dismiss the Captain Amarinder Singh government immediately.