Dismissing reported differences with Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar as a media creation, the Chief Minister (CM) Amarinder Singh on Monday said there were absolutely no problems between him and member of Parliament from Gurdaspur (Jakhar).

Speaking to reporters after flagging off a fleet of nine new ambulances, the CM said the reported differences between him and state party chief Sunil were creation of the media.

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He said the media had blown out of proportion a small incident in which Jakhar had left without meeting him (in CM office) because he had to go somewhere else, said Amarinder.

Ever since state party chief left the CM’s office in a huff after he was reportedly asked to leave his mobile phone outside and made to wait for the scheduled meeting, there have been reports of differences over functioning of the government between the Amarinder and Jakhar.

While publically both of them have denied any differences, the fact remains that Jakhar and a section of Congress legislators are unhappy over lack of say in government affairs specially postings of police officers in their respective Assembly constituencies and accessibility to the CM to raise their concerns.

Meanwhile, yet again ruling out the need for local government minister Navjot Singh Sidhu to quit over the Supreme Court proceedings in the road rage case against him, Amarinder said the situation did not warrant Sidhu’s resignation.

He lambasted the Akalis for seeking his resignation, asking them to keep out of the affair, which was nothing to do with them.

In reply to a query on the Phagwara clash, the CM said the situation was completely under control. While some of the culprits responsible for the violence that took place on Ambedkar Jayanti were already in custody, the others would also soon be arrested, he said.

There was no law and order problem there now, said Amarinder Singh, asserting that his government would not allow anyone to disturb the state’s peace and communal harmony. Strict action would be taken elements trying to trigger any kind of disturbance in the state, he added.

Earlier, speaking at the flag-off event, the Chief Minister said a Chinese company had expressed interest in setting up a mobile handset manufacturing unit in Mohali, which was emerging as a major industrial and IT
hub.

He expressed satisfaction at the positive response received by his government from industry and investors not just from within the country but also from other parts of the world.