Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Friday dismissed speculation surrounding his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, clarifying that the meeting had been scheduled to discuss Punjab-specific issues, including law and order, border area concerns and the activities of a gangster operating in his parliamentary constituency.
Speculation had gained momentum after photographs of Randhawa with BJP Rajya Sabha MP and BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh surfaced outside the Home Minister’s office. The meeting also attracted political attention amid continuing discontent within the Punjab Congress over the party high command’s recent decision to retain Raja Warring as Punjab Congress President and Partap Singh Bajwa as Leader of the Opposition ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Randhawa said he had earlier written to the Home Minister seeking intervention on Punjab’s deteriorating law and order situation. He said he requested greater coordination between Central and State agencies to tackle organised crime and pointed out the activities of a gangster active in his constituency, though he refrained from naming the individual publicly.
Randhawa also recalled that terrorism in Punjab had been successfully tackled in the past through coordinated operations involving both Central and State agencies.
When questioned about reports of his dissatisfaction with the Congress and speculation regarding his political future, Randhawa maintained that he continued to serve as a General Secretary of the Congress, describing it as a significant organisational responsibility.
‘Congress Should Not Have Reached This Situation’
Without directly criticising the party leadership, Randhawa made a candid observation on the prevailing atmosphere within the Punjab Congress following the recent organisational appointments.
He said it was “unfortunate” that despite numerous meetings and prolonged deliberations, the party had reached a stage where senior leaders were publicly expressing dissatisfaction.
Responding to questions about the public resentment shown by senior Congress leaders, including Charanjit Singh Channi and Manish Tewari, Randhawa declined to comment on their behalf and said such questions should be addressed to the leaders concerned.
‘Yeh Naubat Nahin Aani Chahiye Thi’
Making perhaps his most significant political remark of the day, Randhawa said that while the situation within the party was not yet alarming, the developments following the announcement of organisational appointments were not a positive sign for the Congress.
“Even if the situation is not so grave, after so many meetings and deliberations, if this is where the party stands after the appointments, it certainly does not augur well. Yeh Naubat Nahin Aani Chahiye Thi (The situation should never have come to this),” Randhawa remarked.
His statement is being viewed as an acknowledgment of the unease prevailing within the Punjab Congress, even as he firmly rejected speculation linking his meeting with Amit Shah to any political realignment.
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