'Work together': Sonia Gandhi advises Captain Amarinder amid Sidhu's 'attacks' on Punjab government

NEW DELHI: Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday met Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi amid reports that the Punjab chief minister is unhappy with the attacks directed at his government by the new state party chief Navjot Singh Sidhu.
The meeting comes a day after Sidhu unleashed a fresh salvo at Amarinder Singh questioning the delay by the state government in acting on a report prepared by Punjab Police’s special task force (STF) on drugs.
However, Punjab Congress incharge Harish Rawat denied that Amarinder Singh was upset with Sidhu.
He said that Sonia Gandhi has asked the state government and the party organisation to work together for the upcoming assembly elections in the state.
"I believe Sonia Gandhi has advised Captain Amarinder Singh and Navjot Sidhu to work within their respective limits but cooperate with each other," Rawat said.
Amarinder Singh described his one-hour meeting with Sonia Gandhi as extremely satisfying, according to his media adviser.
The chief minister said that various state-related issues were discussed during the meeting.
Sidhu, who was appointed Punjab Congress chief despite a very strong and open opposition by Amarinder, has kept the pressure on the state government over the progress on 18 issues identified by the party ahead of the assembly elections next year.
Sidhu, after taking charge, had called on the chief minister and submitted a letter listing out some issues which needed urgent settlement.
Amarinder responded to this with a claim that his government had already implemented most of the promises made to the people in the party's election manifesto in 2017 and the other pending issues were also being resolved.
On Monday, in a series of tweets, the new Punjab Congress chief alleged that there had been a delay in acting on a report prepared by Punjab Police’s special task force (STF) on drugs.

"Punishing culprits behind Drug trade is Congress’s priority under 18-Point Agenda. What is the action taken on Majithia? While Govt seeks extradition of NRIs linked to the same case. If further delayed will bring resolution in Punjab Vidhan Sabha for making the Reports Public," read one of the tweets by Sidhu.
He further said if the sealed report was not made public, he would move a resolution in the next assembly session.
Punjab goes to polls next year and the open differences between the two top leaders of the Congress may adversely impact the ruling party's prospects.
Amarinder Singh, who faces the tough task of leading the faction-ridden party to victory in the assembly polls, faced further setback when Prashant Kishor announced to step down as his political adviser.
(With inputs from agencies)