Rahul Gandhi steps in resolve infighting in Punjab unit
Darpan News Desk IANS, 22 Jun, 2021 11:35 AM
New Delhi, June 22 (IANS) After Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh met the party panel on the state in the national capital on Tuesday, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi has stepped in to defuse the tension in the state unit.
Gandhi has given utmost importance to the state, meeting stake holders who have sought time from him, said sources.
Some MLAs who met Rahul Gandhi said that they have mentioned issues regarding the state. Pargat Singh, who is among those MLAs critical of the Chief Minister, said: "If CM is ready to address the issues raised by me, then the matter is resolved."
Meanwhile, Amarinder Singh expressed his displeasure at being targetted and said that undue pressure is created because of a few individuals, sources said.
However, senior party leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who heads the three-member panel, which has got a larger mandate for poll preparation apart from resolving factionalism in the state party unit, said: "Everybody has said that they will fight the polls together and the party is united under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi."
Sources say the panel discussed the political situation in the state and also issues related to Navjot Singh Sidhu and a possible way out to resolve the issue.
While Sidhu is not relenting in his attack on the Chief Minister, he has insisted on an early resolution of issues. State in-charge Harish Rawat has said that the matter is with Sonia Gandhi and refused to comment on statements made by Sidhu.
Apart from Kharge, the central panel comprises Rawat and J.P. Aggarwal.
On the 130th day, the cumulative Covid vaccination coverage stood at 20,06,62,456 doses, including 15,71,49,593 first doses and 4,35,12,863 second doses, as per data available at 7 a.m. on Wednesday. India is the second country after the US, which took 124 days, to achieve this level.
At several places including outside the Delhi borders, the farmers burnt effigies of the Central government, hoisted black flags on their homes, farms or vehicles to condemn the farm laws and demanding their rollback as over 470 farmers' lives have been lost in the past six months.
Doctors suspect that the sudden surge in mucormycosis, or “black fungus” infection, may be linked to the use of steroids to treat COVID-19. It can result in breathing problems and coughing blood.
India broke its own previous record of Covid deaths in 24 hours after the the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday said the nation recorded 4,529 deaths -- the highest number of fatalities from Covid infection.
Cyclone Tauktae has claimed the lives of at least 12 people and close to 200,000 have been evacuated. The impact of the cyclone so intense that it has uprooted trees and electricity poles.
