New Delhi: While Punjab observes state holiday on March 23, to commemorate the martyrdom of legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is facing his first protest at his Sangrur house after taking over CM’s chair.
Panthak Chetna Lahar chief Purushottam Singh Phaguwala sat on dharna outside CM Mann’s Sangrur residence and protested against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s choice of Rajya Sabha candidates.
Singh alleged that all five candidates proposed to Rajya Sabha under AAP banner hold no link with Punjab and hence it’s an insult to the people of state. He said that he wants to ‘awaken’ the people of Punjab by ‘exposing’ double standards of party.
AAP announced five names including cricketer Harbhajan Singh, Punjab party incharge Raghav Chadha, academician Ashok Mittal, Professor Sandeep Pathak & businessman Sanjeev Arora for election to the Upper House. As AAP won a decisive mandate, all are likely to be elected unopposed.
Opposition parties have lashed out at the AAP leadership for selecting ‘outsiders’ for its RS membership. Raghav Chadha, a Delhi based leader & close aide of Arvind Kejriwal has come under target for being nominated from Punjab.
Navjot Singh, former PCC chief also slammed the AAP for betraying Punjab over its selection of RS picks.
He tweeted, “New batteries for the Delhi remote control. It’s blinking. Harbhajan is an exception….(It is) betrayal of Punjab!”
Another Cong MLA said that if Mann really wants to pay tribute to Bhagat Singh, he should send a RS candidate from the martyr’s family.
After taking over reins of the state, CM Bhagwant Mann announced a public holiday on March 23, the day when Bhagat Singh was hanged by Britishers.
