Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwaris brother named in drug probe, political storm erupts

Tensions within the Punjab Congress continued Tuesday as the dissident faction, primarily led by former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, maintained a distance from key organisational meetings convened by AICC General Secretary in-charge Bhupesh Baghel at the Punjab Congress headquarters. Out of the three newly appointed working presidents, only two — Raj Kumar Verka and Sukhwinder Singh Danny — attended the meeting called by Baghel while Channi loyalist Sangat Singh Gilzian stayed away. There were also notable absentees from the meeting of the district presidents called by the Baghel, with at least five staying away, even as state Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring tried to play down their absence.The day started with Baghel holding a breakfast meeting with Verka, following which, the latter paid a visit to Channi. While Verka was tightlipped about what transpired at the meeting he emphasised that there were no differences between him and Channi. “Elections are approaching, and we are preparing for it. If anyone wishes to express their views, they may do so; if anyone has a grievance against a specific individual or feels a decision was incorrect, they can voice their concerns to Baghel. If someone wants to speak directly to Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, or KC Venugopal, they will be called there. I have met Channi. No one should harbor the misconception that I am at odds with Channi. Channi is with me, and I am with Channi. All of us are with the Congress,” Verka said. The Punjab Congress headquarters in Chandigarh was a beehive of activity as party leaders from across the state trooped in for a show of strength for the beleaguered PCC president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring. Speaking to media at the Congress office, Warring justified the absence of senior leaders of Channi group by saying that Channi had clarified the matter regarding his absence for a few days. “There was a meeting of the chairpersons yesterday which was attended by Vijay Inder Singla and Dr Amar Singh, and Channi had informed everyone that he would be away for a day or two. He also spoke to Bhupesh Baghel yesterday, and when Bhupesh Baghel addressed the media in the evening, he clarified that Charanjit Singh Channi would be out for two days,” said Warring.Story continues below this ad Warring continued to emphasise that election related meetings were being held as usual during the five day visit of Bhupesh Baghel. “Today, we held a meeting with our PCC executive, including the treasurer, the three working presidents, the organisation general secretary, the PCC president, and members of the various PCC committees. We discussed the party’s strategy and the way forward. If you say that three or four of our district presidents did not attend today’s meeting, please verify the facts. Two of our district presidents are currently on the Amarnath Yatra…,” he said. Meanwhile, commenting on Baghel’ svisit, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa said, “He wishes to meet all the leaders, resolve minor differences, and focus on preparations for the upcoming election… If there are any minor differences, they will be resolved, and everyone will unite on a common platform… We have to ultimately sit at the table to talk…” Referring to the stance taken by Channi and his supporters, Bajwa said he can meet anyone but he should do so while remaining in the ‘Laxman Rekha’. “He knows that things cannot be resolved in a lawyer’s chamber, which will eventually lead to the case being taken up to the Supreme Court… There are minor differences in each family, and they can be resolved,” he said. Bajwa added that Congress is a democratic party full of experienced long-term members. “I urge leaders to stay united if they aim to bring change in Punjab,” he said.

Randhawa was quick to explain that the meeting with Amit Shah was only about law and order issues in Punjab's border districts. (Express Photo) Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha recently organised a havan at his official residence and invited fellow IAS officers. The gathering, however, failed to attract the expected crowd. Despite several reminders, only a limited number of officers turned up. Those who skipped the event had ready explanations. Some said the long weekend had already been planned with family commitments, while others claimed they were out of station. But in Punjab’s bureaucracy, official reasons often come with unofficial whispers. An officer remarked, with a smirk, that many colleagues were in no mood for socialising. Frequent transfers and suspensions under the current dispensation, he said, had left officers feeling uncertain. “Then why bother trying to please the bosses?” he quipped. Whether it was holiday plans or quiet discontent, the thin attendance became the talking point. Sometimes even a havan can end up revealing more about the mood in the bureaucracy than any official meeting.The Congress rulebook on meeting Amit Shah Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa set political tongues wagging after he met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a time when he was reportedly unhappy over being overlooked for a key post in the party. The timing of the meeting ensured that speculation spread much faster than any official clarification. Randhawa was quick to explain that the meeting was only about law and order issues in Punjab’s border districts. Fair enough. But not everyone seemed convinced. The bigger question doing the rounds was whether he had informed the Congress high command beforehand. Ever since Congress-turned-BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu crossed over to the BJP, Congress leaders have been extra careful about being seen with BJP’s top brass. Insiders speak of an unwritten protocol in place in the grand old party: If you are meeting Amit Shah, make sure the party leadership knows first. Otherwise, the explanation may end up attracting more attention than the meeting itself. When Gurugram FIR fuelled IPS blame game The forensic science report released by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to counter the controversy over the Akal Takht’s censure did not just trigger political embarrassment after the Gurugram Police termed it fake and registered an FIR. It has also become the subject of animated discussion within the bureaucracy. According to sources, the IPS officer who had procured the report later told the Chief Minister that the police action in Gurugram was not merely a routine investigation. Instead, he is learnt to have blamed another IPS officer, who has roots in Haryana, claiming he had quietly used his connections in the Haryana Police to set the process in motion. The explanation has raised eyebrows in official circles, especially because the rivalry between the two IPS officers is well known. Their professional differences have played out before, making the latest episode as much about bureaucratic turf wars as the fallout from the controversial forensic report.Story continues below this ad Captain’s data, AAP’s message Captain Amarinder Singh’s government built the database. The AAP government appears to have found a new use for it. The bulk SMS announcing the launch of Mawan Dhiyan Satkar Yojana reached virtually everyone in the Punjab telecom circle – men, bureaucrats, journalists and others who were never meant to be beneficiaries. The message informed recipients that the first instalment under the scheme had been sanctioned and would be credited within 24 hours, leaving many briefly wondering if they had unexpectedly qualified. Sources said the Information and Public Relations Department sent out the messages as part of the government’s publicity campaign. But the exercise has also brought back memories of the Covid years, when the then