Chandigarh: Newly appointed Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Pargat Singh on Monday met Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi, as AAP state president Aman Arora questioned the Congress high command’s handling of its Punjab unit.After meeting Rahul, Pargat said he was committed to strengthening the Congress organisation in Punjab and working for the rights and interests of the state and its people.“With renewed energy and the collective strength of our leaders, workers and people of Punjab, we will work tirelessly to strengthen the Congress organisation and build a better future for Punjab,” he said.Pargat also met Kharge, thanked him and sought his guidance as he takes charge of the state unit.Arora congratulated Pargat but alleged that the Congress had disregarded the sentiments of its Punjab workers while making leadership changes. He questioned the removal of Amrinder Singh Raja Warring as PPCC chief, saying, “Amarinder Singh Raja Warring took charge of the Congress during a difficult period and worked with party workers for four and a half years. But Sachin Pilot, who replaced Bhupesh Baghel as Congress’s Punjab incharge, decided to remove him during a visit to Punjab that lasted barely two hours.”Arora also questioned Rahul’s meeting with Pargat four days after his appointment. “This raises questions about the attitude of the Congress high command towards Punjab,” he said.On reports that Vijay Inder Singla’s name had been considered for the post, Arora said overlooking him had disappointed people in Sangrur and Malwa.He also alleged that factionalism remained unresolved in the Congress, citing social media posts by former CM Charanjit Singh Channi’s son and reports of Warring travelling to London with his family.“Instead of the enthusiasm that should have followed the appointment of a new state president, there is silence among Congress workers,” he said.
