Chandigarh, January 25: Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu today said he was “deeply hurt” at “not being involved” in the election process for local bodies, especially in the municipal corporations of Patiala, Jalandhar and Amritsar.
He said neither the government nor the party had sought his views while selecting mayoral candidates. Sidhu and 15 municipal councillors had stayed away from a party meeting to pick Amritsar Mayor, much to the embarrassment of Congress’ state unit. Speaking on the sidelines of a departmental meeting on Swachh Bharat Mission, the minister said as he was not consulted for the polls, “I did not attend the meeting called for electing Amritsar Mayor.”
At a press meet later, he elaborated, “I am extremely hurt by the fact that despite being the Local Government Minister, I was not involved in the exercise. I don’t want facts distorted. So I have given everything in writing.”
Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tript Bajwa said Sidhu was invited to participate in the process to pick Amritsar Mayor but he did not respond. To this,
Sidhu responded: “I was neither informed nor invited to any poll meeting. Only after I said so publicly did Bajwa come to my residence.”
News Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com
