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Congress panel recommends suspension of ex-Punjab unit chief Jakhar for two years
Jakhar was issued a show-cause notice by the Congress disciplinary action committee on April 11 for alleged anti-party statements during the Punjab elections, but he ignored it and chose not to reply
The Congress disciplinary action committee (DAC) on Tuesday recommended the suspension of former Punjab unit president Sunil Jakhar from the party for two years for alleged anti-party statements in the run-up to the recent assembly elections, it is learnt.
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After a meeting in New Delhi, DAC member secretary Tariq Anwar said the committee has sent a recommendation to Congress president Sonia Gandhi for action against Jakhar. “The committee is unanimous in its recommendation,” Anwar told journalists. Though he refused to elaborate on the action suggested against the former PPCC chief, a DAC member said the committee has recommended Jakhar’s suspension from the party for two years and his removal from all party posts.
Jakhar is a member of the All India Congress Committee and does not hold any position in the party. He was inducted into the AICC as the Lok Sabha member from Gurdaspur, a seat he lost in 2019.
Asked to comment on the DAC’s recommendation, Jakhar’s pithy response was: “Good luck to the Congress.”
Reacting to the development, Jakhar’s nephew and newly elected Abohar Congress MLA Sandeep Jakhar said that if he such action has been recommended, it is grossly unfair. “Jakhar saab is a senior leader of the Congress and belongs to a family of traditional Congressmen. He has already worked for the party,” he said, expressing disappointment over the action proposed by the disciplinary panel. The first-time MLA also said everyone should be treated equally in the party.
Congress acting against those with conscience: Jakhar
Jakhar was issued a show-cause notice by the DAC on April 11 for alleged anti-party statements during the Punjab elections, but he ignored it and chose not to reply. “Aaj, sar kalam honge unke jinme abhi zameer baaki hai (Today, those with a conscience will be beheaded),” he tweeted before the meeting of the DAC, headed by former Union minister AK Antony, in Delhi.
The post, which raises questions over the disciplinary action, is being seen in party circles as another dare by Jakhar to the Congress leadership. The disciplinary panel had given him a week to reply and the deadline ended on Monday. According to sources close to Jakhar, he has taken the notice as an “affront” and is in no mood to reply. While his refusal to respond to the notice has been seen by some as defiance, there are party leaders who feel the notice is unjustified and an overreaction when others who campaigned for rivals, including the BJP, or fielded their relatives against the official candidates of the Congress have not even been asked about their actions.
Action will escalate infighting
There is a feeling that action against Jakhar, who headed the Punjab unit till nine months ago, could escalate infighting in the state unit that is grappling with deep divisions. Former Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu and some other former MLAs had met Jakhar at his Panchkula residence on April 15 to express solidarity with him. All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Raminder Awla has also come out in his support.
The DAC had issued show-cause notices to Jakhar and Kerala leader and former Union minister KV Thomas for their remarks and actions. The disciplinary action against Jakhar was sought by AICC secretary in-charge of Punjab affairs Harish Chaudhary for speaking against the party.
Accused of fuelling factionalism
During the Punjab elections, Jakhar had created a flutter in party circles by stating that he was rejected for the chief minister’s post for being a Hindu and blamed “senior advisers sitting in Delhi” for the decision. In another statement, he claimed that at the time of selection of then chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s successor, 42 of the 79 Congress MLAs had backed him and only two were with Charanjit Singh Channi, whom the party leadership picked for the post.
Chaudhary, who wrote to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, pointed out the adverse impact of these statements on support for the party in the community not only in Punjab but also in neighbouring states. Jakhar was also accused of encouraging factionalism. “The letter was referred to the AICC disciplinary action committee by the Congress president for necessary action,” the notice said.
