Ministers Mohindra, Balbir Sidhu in a battle of one-upmanship
Sunday, 07/07/2019
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CHANDIGARH: Punjab local bodies minister Brahm Mohindra has written a strongly worded demi-official (DO) letter to chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh against ‘loose’ comments that new health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu has made to refer to Mohindra’s tenure as the state health minister.
Mohindra was the health minister, while Balbir was animal husbandry ministry, before the CM shuffled portfolios on June 6. In the DO letter, Mohindra has apprised the CM on how the new state health minister’s statements had tarnished the state government’s image.
Balbir’s comments were made during a meeting with health department officials on June 24 and the minister referred ‘disparagingly’ to the ‘long tenure’ given to drug-inspectors under Mohindra. Balbir has also cancelled key transfers that Mohindra had recommended just three days before the change in ministries. The new health minister also objected to appointments made during Mohindra’s tenure in the state health agency that has to implement the Universal Health Insurance Scheme.
‘A NEW LOW’
Even after the matter reached the CMO, the animosity between the two ministers plunged to a new low. The Mohindra camp has claimed that his ‘close associates’, who had been putting up at the guest house of Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PSHC) at Phase-6 in Mohali, were forced to vacate, allegedly at the behest of Balbir, by disrupting power supply to their rooms. This incident happened after Mohindra had sent the DO letter to the CM.
“My relationship with Mohindra saab dates back to over 20 years. He is my senior minister and I cannot even think of hurting him. Who told you all this? I don’t know about any DO letter because we don’t have any issue between us. By asking all this, you have hurt me,” said Balbir, when queried on the issue. Mohindra could not be contacted despite repeated attempts as he is attending a wedding at a relative’s place in Indore.
