New Delhi, September 29
In a move that signals shifting power equations in poll-bound Punjab, Congress veteran and former state chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh met Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday evening at the latter’s residence to discuss the prevailing security scenario in the border state and the ongoing farmers’ agitation.
The meeting, which lasted for nearly an hour and bears huge political implications for Punjab, comes in the wake of an ongoing Punjab Congress crisis and Singh’s recent resignation as state chief minister.
After the meeting, Singh tweeted “met Union Home Minister Amit Shah ji in Delhi. Discussed the prolonged farmers’ agitation against #FarmLaws & urged him to resolve the crisis urgently with the repeal of the laws & guarantee MSP, besides supporting Punjab in crop diversification. #NoFarmersNoFood.”
Capt Amarinder Singh left the Shah residence from the rear gate to avoid media queries after the meeting got over.
This is the first meeting Amarinder held with Shah after exiting Punjab CMO. The personal touch of the meeting makes it important and reveals possibilities of Capt’s future entry into the BJP, which does not have a face in Punjab.
Equally important is the timing of the meeting, scheduled a day after Shah met BJP in-charge of Punjab Tarun Chugh.
Amarinder Singh, who was unceremoniously forced out of the Punjab CM’s position to pander to state Congress chief Navjot Sidhu’s ambitions, had said at the time of resigning that he was readying for a battle and would do “whatever it takes to keep Sidhu from becoming CM”.
Capt’s clarion call against Sidhu implied that all his future options were open.
Sources privy to the Capt-Shah meeting said the ground for the engagement had been laid in advance and the two leaders could well discuss a possible meeting ground for a future political alignment.
A major issue of convergence for the two sides is Capt’s nationalistic credentials which Prime Minister Narendra Modi has publicly praised more than once and the ongoing farmers’ agitation where Capt Amarinder can play a role.
The discussions between the leaders also veered around Punjab’s security given the crisis in the state government, with Sidhu resigning followed by another minister Razia Sultana putting in her papers.
The BJP today already questioned the Punjab Congress crisis saying it was causing instability in a sensitive border state, a stand Capt has taken for long terming Sidhu “dangerous and unstable”, and questioning his links with Pakistan PM Imran Khan.
Sources said if Capt and Shah agreed on the terms of engagement, especially in respect of the farm agitation, the former Punjab CM could meet PM Modi soon, clearing the path for his formal entry into the BJP.
The BJP had yesterday said the meeting with Capt was not ruled out.
Sources close to Capt Amarinder today said all options were open, as the former CM had said when he resigned recently.
If Capt Amarinder enters BJP, the entire electoral landscape of Punjab would change with the BJP suddenly finding a face and ground.
