Expel Chhajalwadi for outburst against PPCC chief: Dimpa

Wednesday, 13/11/2013

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131113/punjab.htm#6

Amritsar : Former MLA and senior Congress leader Jasbir Singh Dimpa today lashed out at party leader Ranjit Singh Chhajjalwadi, terming him a “black sheep”. In a hard-hitting statement today, Dimpa said Chhajjalwadi was “never loyal to the party and now he iss playing into the hands of the Akalis.”

He countered Chhajjalwadi’s allegations against PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa on “discrimination” against Dalits. He said it was Chhajjalwadi who was resorting to caste politics. “The Congress is committed to the welfare of the Dalits,” he said.

“Chhajjalwadi is not aware of the Congress ideology as he has been changing loyalties. He was once with Surjit Singh Barnala, then switched loyalty to Parkash Singh Badal and then joined Gurcharan Singh Tohra and even the Ravi Inder-led Akali Dal,” he said.

Dimpa warned Chhajalwadi that he would be taught a lesson if he dared to show black flags to Bajwa. He demanded Chhajjalwadi’s expulsion from the party.

“We will approach the party high command to prove that Chhajjalwadi is hand in glove with the Akalis,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Chhajalwadi held a press conference at Chandigarh, accusing Bajwa of appointing a couple of rebel party leaders as acting block presidents without including them in the party fold. He claimed that these leaders were earlier expelled from the party for anti-party activities.

The rivalry between Dimpa and Chhajalwadi began during the 2012 assembly elections when the Congress fielded the latter from the Baba Bakala assembly seat. This displeased Dimpa as the constituency was carved out of the Beas assembly seat which he had represented in the past.

He reportedly threw his weight behind party rebel Baljit Singh Bhatti who polled over 17,000 votes and played a key role in Chhajalwadi’s defeat.

Dimpa, who contested from Amritsar (South), lost to SAD's Inderbir Singh Bolaria.

Chandigarh: President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), embroiled in a controversy over a land deal, saw fresh rebellion within the party with former MLA and Congress in charge for Baba Bakala block Ranjit Singh Chhajalwaddi accusing him of ignoring leaders from the reserved categories and promoting groupism.

Addressing a press conference here, Chhajalwadi, who was accompanied by leaders of the Amritsar District Congress Committee, said if their grievances were not addressed, workers would approach the party high command in New Delhi and show black flags to Bajwa when he came to Baba Bakala.

Old rivalry

The rivalry between Dimpa and Chhajalwadi began during the 2012 assembly elections

The Congress fielded Chhajalwadi from the Baba Bakala assembly seat

This displeased Dimpa as the constituency was carved out of the Beas assembly seat which he had represented in the past

He reportedly threw his weight behind party rebel Baljit Singh Bhatti who played a key role in Chhajalwadi's defeat

Dimpa, who contested from Amritsar (South), was defeated by SAD's Inderbir Singh Bolaria

Chandigarh: President of the PPCC, embroiled in a controversy over a land deal, today saw fresh rebellion within the party with former MLA and Congress in charge for Baba Bakala block Ranjit Singh Chhajalwaddi accusing him of ignoring leaders from the reserved categories and promoting groupism.

Addressing a press conference here, Chhajalwadi, who was accompanied by leaders of the Amritsar District Congress Committee, said if their grievances were not addressed, workers would approach the party high command in New Delhi and show black flags to Bajwa when he came to Baba Bakala.