NEW DELHI: Punjab Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu summoned his two councilors to his Patiala residence on Monday after his statements sparked controversy. In addition, Harish Rawat, head of the state party, hinted that action would be taken against the two advisers – Malwinder Singh Mali and Dr Pyare Lal Garg – who have allegedly made controversial statements about Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan and the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi if they prove to be right.
Garg had questioned the criticism of Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh in Pakistan, while Mali was making a controversial comment about Kashmir. Mali also posted on social media a nasty poster of the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Both advisers were criticized by many congressional leaders, including Amarinder Singh, who said his comments were “totally out of place and antagonistic” to India and Congress’s stated position on Pakistan and Kashmir.
Earlier in the day, Shiromani leader Akali Dal (SAD), Daljit Singh Cheema, also made an excavation in Sidhu claiming that the PPCC chief was friendly with the prime minister and the head of the Pakistani army, so his advisers had just followed the case.
On the other hand, the former chief minister of Uttarakhand, Harish Rawat, told Dehradun that information would be gathered on the alleged statements of the two advisers.
“The person on whom the statement has been made is not a member of our party. However, if these statements have been made (it is still doubtful), we will definitely take action,” he told the media.
According to him, the statements could have been twisted to gain political advantages with assembly polls scheduled for less than a year.
“I had been looking for information. Sidhu ji and some others say the statements were twisted. There is a possibility that political advantage will be sought at the time of the polls,” he said.
Rawat further said: “I would like to clarify on behalf of the party that Jammu and Kashmir are an integral part of India. No one has the right to question this status, let alone issue a statement.”
In posting a controversial sketch of the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by an adviser, Malwinder Singh Mali, the party’s responsible state said the party will condemn everything that insults it.
“He was one of the most popular leaders. For us he was a mother figure. If something insulting is said, we will condemn it. If it is demonstrated while information is being collected, action will be taken,” he said.
(With ANI tickets)
Garg had questioned the criticism of Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh in Pakistan, while Mali was making a controversial comment about Kashmir. Mali also posted on social media a nasty poster of the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Both advisers were criticized by many congressional leaders, including Amarinder Singh, who said his comments were “totally out of place and antagonistic” to India and Congress’s stated position on Pakistan and Kashmir.
Earlier in the day, Shiromani leader Akali Dal (SAD), Daljit Singh Cheema, also made an excavation in Sidhu claiming that the PPCC chief was friendly with the prime minister and the head of the Pakistani army, so his advisers had just followed the case.
On the other hand, the former chief minister of Uttarakhand, Harish Rawat, told Dehradun that information would be gathered on the alleged statements of the two advisers.
“The person on whom the statement has been made is not a member of our party. However, if these statements have been made (it is still doubtful), we will definitely take action,” he told the media.
According to him, the statements could have been twisted to gain political advantages with assembly polls scheduled for less than a year.
“I had been looking for information. Sidhu ji and some others say the statements were twisted. There is a possibility that political advantage will be sought at the time of the polls,” he said.
Rawat further said: “I would like to clarify on behalf of the party that Jammu and Kashmir are an integral part of India. No one has the right to question this status, let alone issue a statement.”
In posting a controversial sketch of the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by an adviser, Malwinder Singh Mali, the party’s responsible state said the party will condemn everything that insults it.
“He was one of the most popular leaders. For us he was a mother figure. If something insulting is said, we will condemn it. If it is demonstrated while information is being collected, action will be taken,” he said.
(With ANI tickets)