'Undisciplined' Congress MLA barred from party meeting chaired by Amarinder Singh

Punjab Congress MLA Kulbir Singh Zira, who had embarrassed his party after boycotting a district-level event, was not allowed to participate in a meeting of legislators chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh here on Saturday. The legislator from the Zira seat, who had been suspended from the party's primary membership on the charge of indiscipline, was asked not to attend the meeting of party legislators as the matter related to his suspension was still pending, party sources said here.

Amarinder Singh Saturday held a meeting with Congress legislators of Malwa region as part of pre-budget consultations with them. Earlier, the CM had held meetings with MLAs of Majha and Doaba regions in the past three days. The pre-budget meeting had been called to elicit views of MLAs on budget proposals to ensure holistic development of their respective assembly segments.

Talking to reporters after the meeting on Saturday, Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar said, "Zira submitted the demands of his constituency separately to the CM." To a question, Jakhar further said, "The matter related to the suspension of Zira is still pending."

Zira on Friday had met the chief minister, in charge of state party affairs Asha Kumari and state unit chief Sunil Jakhar. Cabinet minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa had accompanied Zira for a meeting with Amarinder Singh. Zira had submitted an unconditional apology over the matter, Asha Kumari had told reporters on Friday. Taking serious note of his public outburst, the Punjab Congress on Wednesday had suspended Zira from the primary membership of the party on the charge of indiscipline.

Zira had left his party red-faced after boycotting a district-level function on January 12 in protest against "no action" being taken against some liquor contractors who were indulged in selling illicit alcohol in Ferozepur. He had also accused a few police officers including an IG rank officer of being in cahoots with some liquor contractors for allowing them to carry out illegal trade in return of money.

(With inputs from agencies.)