Punjab govt will not survive, says Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa; SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia says countdown has begun

Chandigarh: Congress MP from Gurdaspur Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Thursday claimed that AAP govt in Punjab would not survive and that President's Rule would be imposed in the coming days. Addressing a press conference, the former deputy chief minister alleged, "The AAP fears losing power, which is why it has ‘dramatised' a special assembly session on Labour Day." He said, "Under its cover, chief minister Bhagwant Mann is planning to conduct a floor test to save the govt." He claimed that "the chief minister is aware that several of his MLAs are in touch with the BJP and may switch sides."Referring to the IED blast on the Rajpura-Shambhu railway track, he said it endangered Punjab's peace and communal harmony.Citing that "a supporter of MP Amritpal Singh's party was reportedly named in connection with the blast", Randhawa asked the CM to "explain why and on whose advice the National Security Act (NSA) was removed from Amritpal Singh".Terming it "a failure" of both central and state agencies, he added that such an incident occurring soon after revoking NSA on Amritpal "signals danger".He also demanded that "the central investigation agencies conduct a thorough probe into the matter".Randhawa also said, "Despite such a major explosion, the CM did not visit the site. He should have gone to the spot and convened an emergency meeting immediately, but failed to do so."He also targeted DGP Gaurav Yadav, calling him "spineless", and said "law and order in Punjab has deteriorated" under his command. He claimed that "conditions resembling terrorism are re-emerging."Speaking on "Operation Lotus", against which he said a special assembly session was called in 2022, Randhawa questioned, "Why no investigation or chargesheet has been filed despite complaints by minister Harpal Cheema and AAP MLAs alleging attempts to poach them."He asked that if the allegations were false, why no action was taken against Cheema under the relevant legal provisions.Claiming that the countdown for the Bhagwant Mann govt has already begun, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Thursday said, "AAP govt in Punjab could collapse at any moment."In a written statement, Majithia said, "Only around 65 MLAs attended the recent AAP meeting in Jalandhar and claimed they were brought under pressure from police and vigilance agencies. The number would have been significantly lower without such pressure."Reiterating his earlier stance, Majithia claimed, "After Rajya Sabha members, even Lok Sabha MPs and other leaders would soon part ways with the AAP."He described the current dispensation as a "minority govt", alleging that "a large number of AAP MLAs have become disillusioned and may switch sides at any time."He also urged the Punjab governor to conduct a floor test without any pressure to verify the govt's majority. MSID:: 130635706 413 |
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