Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 16

Amid the heightened tensions in the Punjab Congress after speculation over appointment of Navjot Singh Sidhu as PPCC chief, the former Cabinet minister arrived in Delhi for a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Also read: Amid row over Sidhu's appointment, Manish Tewari tweets a reminder: ‘Punjab is secular’

The meeting is taking place in the presence of Punjab affairs in-charge Harish Rawat.

Meanwhile, after the news of Navjot Singh Sidhu becoming state president circulated, there has been a sharp reaction from the Congress leaders, including Manish Tewari, who has batted for a non-Sikh state president.

Tewari in an early morning tweet on Friday said, "Demographics of Punjab -- Sikhs: 57.75%, Hindus: 38.49%, Dalits:  31:94% (Sikh&Hindus), Punjab is both progressive & Secular..." "...But balancing social interest groups is key to equality," he said, and also added a graph showing the religious composition in Punjab.

Demographics of Punjab:

1. Sikhs : 57.75 %

2. Hindus : 38.49%

3. Dalits : 31:94 % (Sikh&Hindus)

Punjab is both progressive & SECULAR.

ਹਿੰਦੂ ਤੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਦਾ ਨਹੁੰ-ਮਾਸ ਦਾ ਰਿਸ਼ਤਾ ਹੈ!

BUT

balancing SOCIAL INTEREST GROUPs is key

बराबरी सामाजिक न्याय की बुनियाद है!

EQUALITY pic.twitter.com/mKddV4TYOR

— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) July 16, 2021

Congress' Punjab affairs in charge Harish Rawat on Thursday had claimed a peace formula had been finalised to make Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and his former Cabinet colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu work together in the run-up to the next Assembly elections.

Rawat's announcement came amid reports that Sidhu is likely to be made the next Punjab Congress president and two working presidents, one a Hindu and the other a Dalit face, would assist him. The final decision is likely to be announced soon.