Patiala: Former Punjab chief minister and Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi on Sunday alleged that unelected appointees from Delhi and other states were exercising control over the Punjab administration, reducing elected ministers to “figureheads”. He demanded an independent white paper on all contractual and statutory appointments made by the state government since March 2022.Addressing a media briefing in Morinda, Channi displayed photographs of AAP’s Delhi leaders and several officials and alleged that they influenced departmental policies, tenders and the functioning of the state machinery, while the chief minister and his ministers merely approved decisions.Channi alleged that the vice-chairperson of the Punjab Development Commission, a former Delhi government adviser, wielded executive authority while enjoying Cabinet-equivalent perks, security and protocol. He claimed commission members were paid Rs 3.60 lakh a month and that 75 of 85 appointees in the commission and connected wings were from outside Punjab.He also questioned the appointment of an AAP national spokesperson as chairperson of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and a former Himachal Pradesh chief secretary as chairman of the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission.Channi further raised questions over appointments associated with the Mukh Mantri Tirth Yatra Scheme, Punjab Large Industrial Development Board and the health minister’s office, alleging that outside appointees influenced matters ranging from transport and transfers to vigilance inquiries and police postings.He alleged that these appointees reported to senior AAP functionaries and had effectively created a “shadow cabinet” that undermined the authority of elected representatives.AAP minister Aman Arora, party media in-charge Baltej Pannu, Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha and PPCB chairperson Reena Gupta could not be contacted despite repeated calls and messages.AAP spokesperson and MP Malwinder Singh Kang said he was unaware of Channi’s allegations as he had been in Delhi for the past few days, and suggested that another party spokesperson be contacted for a response.
