Chandigarh: Arvind Kejriwalโs meeting with Punjab police on Monday, apparently in the absence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has sparked a big controversy, with the opposition Congress accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief of exercising โremote controlโ weeks after the partyโs election victory.
In the meeting, Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi Chief Minister, reportedly met with top officials from the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), as well as the stateโs Chief Secretary and Secretary, Power.
โIAS officers summoned by Arvind Kejriwal in CM Bhagwant Mannโs absence. This exposes the de-facto CM and Delhi remote control. Clear breach of federalism, insult to Punjabi pride. Both must clarify (sic),โ tweeted former Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu.
Former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh alleged that the โworst had happenedโ and that Arvind Kejriwal โhas taken over Punjabโ long before expected.
โWorst was feared, worst happened. Arvind Kejriwal has taken over Punjab much before it was expected to happen. That Bhagwant Mann is a rubber stamp was a foregone conclusion already, now Kejriwal has proved it right by chairing Punjab officersโ meeting in Delhi,โ tweeted Mr Singh.
While Mr Kejriwal or top AAP leaders have yet to respond to the criticism, a party spokesperson justified the meeting and said the opposition โshould supportโ constructive steps for Punjab.
โMr Kejriwal is our national convener. We always take his guidance. If for some constructive step and betterment of Punjab, an informal meeting was held, then opposition should not criticise it, but rather support it,โ AAP spokesperson Malwinder Singh Kang told reporters.
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