Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 18

Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi led an official delegation to Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan on Thursday. He was accompanied by his family members and some Cabinet colleagues and MLAs. Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Navjot Sidhu, who was instrumental in the opening of the Kartarpur corridor in November 2018, was not part of the delegation.

Much to his surprise, Sidhu was told late Wednesday night that he was on the third list of VIPs visiting the shrine on November 20, a day after Gurpurb. When contacted, his media adviser Jagtar Sidhu said the form to secure permission was filled well in time. “That the PPCC chief was not included in the first official delegation is a matter between the Centre and the Punjab Government. Only they can explain the reasons,” he said.

The Chief Minister’s office later in the day said a list of 50 VIPs, including Sidhu, PPCC working presidents and senior MLAs, was sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on November 16 evening. Citing security concerns, the Centre refused to allow all VIPs to visit Kartarpur Sahib on the same day, dividing the VIPs into three groups. Sidhu will be visiting Sultanpur Lodhi for Gurpurb celebrations.

Among those who accompanied CM Channi today were Manpreet Badal, Rana Gurjeet Singh, Vijay Inder Singla, Harpartap Ajnala and Barindermeet Pahra. Close relatives of Channi and ministers, who did not require clearance from the MHA, were also part of the delegation. On Friday, a 15-member delegation led by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, ministers Tript Bajwa, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Randeep Nabha and Raj Kumar Verka besides some Members of Legislative Assembly will pay obeisance at the shrine.

On November 20, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief along with working president Kuljit Nagra, Congress’ Punjab affairs in-charge Harish Chaudhary and other ministers and legislators will visit the shrine.