Tag: Amarinder

Categories
India News Politics

Amarinder may launch political party on Wednesday

The former Chief Minister also said he is hopeful of a seat-sharing arrangement with the BJP for next year’s Assembly elections in the state…reports Asian Lite News

Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh may announce the launch of his own political party on Wednesday.

An indication in this regard came on Tuesday when his media advisor Raveen Thukral extended an invite to the media for Amarinder Singh’s press briefing in Chandigarh.

Formally saying goodbye to the Congress which made him the Chief Minister of Punjab twice and the state party president thrice, an ‘upset’ Amarinder Singh last week said that he would soon announce the launch of his own political party to serve the interests of the people, including the farmers who’ve been fighting for their rights for over a year now.

The former Chief Minister also said he is hopeful of a seat-sharing arrangement with the BJP for next year’s Assembly elections in the state, if the farmers’ issues are resolved in their interest.

Without mincing words, Amarinder Singh added that he would not rest until he can secure the future of his people and his state.

“Punjab needs political stability and protection from internal and external threats. I promise my people that I will do what it takes to ensure peace and security, which is today at stake,” read an earlier tweet, quoting Amarinder Singh.

Since his resignation as the Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh has been targeting state Congress President Navjot Sidhu by publically saying that he would fight his possible elevation to the chief ministership tooth and nail, and is ready to make any sacrifice to save the country from such a ‘dangerous man’.

He has also claimed that the Gandhi siblings (Priyanka and Rahul) were “quite inexperienced” and “their advisors were clearly misguiding them”.

After months of infighting within the Congress, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had submitted his resignation on September 18.

ALSO READ: Potshots between Congress, RJD intensify

Categories
-Top News India News Politics

Amarinder meets Shah to discusses ‘farm issues’

Sources said that both the leaders discussed several issues, including national security, farmers’ agitation and the current political situation in Punjab…reports Asian Lite News.

Amid speculation of him joining the BJP, former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday evening. The meeting lasted for around an hour at Shah’s official residence here.

However, Singh’s media advisor Raveen Thukral had then denied the former meeting Shah and BJP chief J.P. Nadda, saying he’s on a personal visit to Delhi to meet ‘some friends’.

On Wednesday, Singh tweeted after the meeting with Shah: “Met Union Home Minister @AmitShah in Delhi. Discussed the prolonged farmers’ agitation against #FarmLaws & urged him to resolve the crisis urgently with repeal of the laws & guarantee MSP, besides supporting Punjab in crop diversification.”

Sources said that both the leaders discussed several issues, including national security, farmers’ agitation and the current political situation in Punjab.

There is also speculation that Singh, who was recently asked to resign as Punjab Chief Minister by the Congress leadership, may join the saffron party or float his own outfit. The BJP is ready to welcome him, saying Singh is a nationalist and all nationalists are welcomed in the party.

“Amarinder Singh is nationalist to the core and he always stood for nationalist issues. Apart from his political agenda, he always stood for nationalist issues. All nationalists are welcome to meet the Home Minister. On one hand, the Congress has insulted a nationalist solider and on the other, it inducted a member of ‘tukde tukde gang’. Our doors are open for all the nationalists,” BJP national spokesperson R.P. Singh said.

The BJP leaders, however, are tightlipped about Singh joining the party. A party leader said that the decision, if any, will be taken by the central leadership and it will be communicated to everyone at an appropriate time.

When asked whether Singh will join the BJP, the party’s national general secretary and Punjab in-charge Dusyant Gautam said, “Let’s see. All those who talk in the national interest are welcome to join the party.”

Sources said that the main agenda of discussion during Wednesday’s meeting was the ongoing farmers’ protest in the Punjab.

“Singh can play an important role in pacifying the farmers, who are protesting for almost a year against the three farm laws. He can also convince them to end the ongoing protest,” the sources said.

ALSO READ-Sidhu once again exhibited ‘shifty’ character, says Amarinder

READ MORE-Amarinder meets Sonia, says will accept any decision

Categories
-Top News India News Politics

Amarinder likely to meet Sonia amid infighting in Punjab

Harish Rawat, had said that it’s a good sign that Rahul Gandhi has met the former-cricketer-turned politician, adding that the issue is likely to be resolved around next week…reports Asian Lite News.

Amid escalating infighting in Punjab Congress, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is likely to meet Sonia Gandhi and apprise his side of the story to the interim Congress President.

The proposed meeting comes in the backdrop of the suggestions made by the Congress high command to the Punjab government and changes in the state unit of the party, days after disgruntled Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu met Rahul Gandhi.

After Sidhu met Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi separately last week, there is a speculation that Priyanka Gandhi has suggested Sidhu’s name as the Punjab Congress chief. However, Amarinder Singh and some of the other factions in the party are not accepting this formula.

Sources said that Punjab leaders may accept him as the working president, but not as a full-fledged state unit chief as the Chief Minister is keen on having a non-Sikh face as the state Congress President.

The Punjab in-charge for Congress, Harish Rawat, had said that it’s a good sign that Rahul Gandhi has met the former-cricketer-turned politician, adding that the issue is likely to be resolved around next week.

Meanwhile, Amarinder Singh had called the MLAs supporting him for lunch in Chandigarh the day Sidhu left for Delhi and is believed to have discussed the future strategy.

The move had reportedly upset the party high command, which viewed it as a show of strength, especially after the panel formed by the Congress to look into the Punjab issue said that there is no question of removing the Chief Minister.

ALSO READ-Amarinder rules out complete lockdown in Punjab

READ MORE-Moderna not to send vaccines directly to Punjab

Categories
COVID-19 India News Punjab

Amarinder rules out complete lockdown in Punjab

He also announced a series of relaxations and relief measures to alleviate the woes of various sections of the people amid the prolonged crisis….reports Asian Lite News

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday again ruled out a complete lockdown, noting that the restrictions currently in place were more stringent than the lockdown conditions in many other states.

He also announced a series of relaxations and relief measures to alleviate the woes of various sections of the people amid the prolonged crisis.

The relaxations include phased opening of shops and various incentives for the housing sector, including three-month extension in permission period of construction of plots and projects for allotments, whether private or allotted, by state urban development authorities.

Amid spiralling Covid cases, the Chief Minister ordered limiting of the number of teachers in government schools to 50 per cent, with the rest taking online classes from home.

He also directed the Food Department to prepare 500,000 additional food packets for distribution among Covid patients, to ensure that every patient individually gets a packet even where there are more than one patient in a family.

The state government has also announced additional 10 kg atta for 1.41 crore Smart Ration Card beneficiaries. The food aid is in addition to the 100,000 lakh food kits, containing 10 kg atta, 2 kg chana and 2 kg sugar already sanctioned for all poor people testing positive with Covid.

It is also additional to the food aid announced by the Centre.

Virtually chairing a Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister compared the Punjab restrictions with the curbs in place in states like Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala, among others, and pointed out that it was not necessary to impose a total lockdown.

The Chief Minister said to meet immediate and urgent needs of the people at the local level, it had been decided by the government to authorise sarpanches to spend up to Rs 5,000 per day, subject to a maximum of Rs 50,000, out of panchayat funds for providing emergency relief by way of food and medicines to the poor and needy in the villages.

All urban local bodies have also been empowered to provide emergency relief, including food and medicines to the poor and needy, from the municipal fund.

Also read:Amandeep Singh : Punjabi music is making waves