Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 23
Navjot Singh Sidhu assumed charge as Punjab Congress president in the presence of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh here on Friday.
Earlier, Sidhu met Singh at the Punjab Bhawan.
According to a video from the event, Sidhu greeted Singh with folded hands and broke the ice by saying: "How are you, sir? Such a pleasure."
Sidhu was about to sit across the table from Singh, who was already seated, but was asked to sit next to the CM.
Speaking to reporters outside the Punjab Bhawan, Congress MLA Pargat Singh said Sidhu met the chief minister over tea in the presence of AICC in-charge of Punjab affairs Harish Rawat.
The two leaders sat next to each other and the meeting between them was cordial, he added.
Senior Congress leaders Manish Tewari, Partap Singh Bajwa and Lal Singh were also present.
This was the first time in nearly four months that Sidhu and Singh met each other.
Highlights:
Real issue of protesting farmers, teachers not my fights: Sidhu
"My fights are not the issue, farmers sitting in Delhi, protesting TET qualified teachers, the problems of doctors and nurses are the real issues," he said.
The crowd chanted Sidhu's name repeatedly as he spoke.
Sidhu asked why must electricity be bought for Rs 12/per unit.
"Choran di chori pakdi jaani chahidi ae," he said.
We will work together for Punjab: Capt Amarinder
Singh spoke of his family's long association with Sidhu's father. Singh credited him for his foray into politics.
"We (Sidhu and Singh) will work together for Punjab. Not just Punjab, but India. We share a long border with Pakistan...Pakistan, China and now with America's departure, Taliban in Afghanistan, all of them are going to come and sit at Kashmir's border, Punjab's border," he said.
We have to bring people together, he said, addressing Sidhu.
Red tapism damaged morale of Congress workers: Jakhar
Outgoing state Congress president Sunil Jakhar said red-tapism damaged the morale of Congress workers and he told Sidhu that it was an "unfinished" agenda for him.
Without naming anyone, he said those in talks with BJP and AAP should remember that they have to remain in Congress. He expressed annoyance over not being called for today’s function.
CM arrives at Congress Bhavan
Singh shared the stage with wife Preneet Kaur, Harish Rawat, and other leaders ahead of Sidhu's installation.
Getting ready for the installation of the new @INCPunjab team, @sherryontopp with CM @capt_amarinder pic.twitter.com/oYcUmXdt4J
— Raveen Thukral (@RT_MediaAdvPBCM) July 23, 2021
Ahead of his swearing-in as new @INCPunjab president, @sherryontopp meets CM @capt_amarinder during the tea hosted by the latter. Flanking the CM is @harishrawatcmuk pic.twitter.com/NLtNlhMgs3
— Raveen Thukral (@RT_MediaAdvPBCM) July 23, 2021
CM @capt_amarinder shares special moments with @INCPunjab MLAs & MPs at the tea hosted by him before the installation of the new Punjab Congress team. pic.twitter.com/DvB6bROO23
— Raveen Thukral (@RT_MediaAdvPBCM) July 23, 2021
Sidhu arrived at Punjab Bhavan in Chandigarh ahead of his installation ceremony. He later left for the Congress headquarters to welcome the chief minister.
Most of the ministers and MLAs have arrived.
All Punjab Congress MLAs, MPs and
— Punjab Congress (@INCPunjab) July 22, 2021
senior party members are requested to be present at Congress Bhawan on Friday 23rd July at 10AM to set up the new team of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. pic.twitter.com/jpm3JP39wa
Four working presidents of the Punjab Congress will also assume charge at the ceremony at the party's state headquarters here.
Singh, who reached here from his farmhouse in Siswan, had invited party leaders for tea at the Punjab Bhawan.
Sidhu came from Patiala and went to the Punjab Bhawan shortly before Singh's arrival.
Media was not allowed entry inside the Punjab Bhawan.
Ministers, Congress MLAs and other senior party leaders were also present at the Punjab Bhawan.
Kuljit Singh Nagra and Sangat Singh Gilzian, two of the four newly-appointed working presidents of the state Congress, had on Thursday extended a formal invite to the chief minister at his farmhouse in Mohali's Siswan for the installation ceremony. The invitation letter was signed by over 55 legislators.
In an apparent bid to bury the differences with the chief minister, Sidhu had separately requested Singh to come for the installation ceremony and said he had "no personal agenda".
Sidhu and Singh have been at loggerheads for some time, with the Amritsar (East) MLA recently attacking the chief minister over desecration cases.
Singh had earlier opposed Sidhu's appointment as the state Congress chief and said he would not meet him until the cricketer-turned-politician apologised for his "derogatory" tweets against him.
The Punjab Congress is leaving no stone unturned to make Sidhu’s installation ceremony a mega event at Punjab Congress Bhavan.
Apart from painting the building, senior leaders have planned a gathering of over 30,000 persons. Sources said since the sitting arrangements had been made for 3,000 persons, others would have to stand in open areas around the main pandal where the events was being held.--WITH PTI