Congress in-charge of Punjab meets Sonia

Defending the appointment of Asha Kumari as party secretary in-charge of Punjab despite her conviction in an alleged land grab case, the Congress on Monday shot back at the BJP for its criticism on the issue, saying “Amit Shah is an accused in a murder case who is out on bail”. Veteran Congress leader Kamal Nath (right) had to quit as AICC in-charge of Punjab within three days of his appointment.

“First it was Kamal Nath and now Asha Kumari, who has been sentenced to one-year jail by a court in a case of land grab that too recently”.

Answering questions from the media, Congress spokesperson Kapil Sibal said Asha Kumari had been at the receiving end of a complicated land acquisition case. Punjab BJP leader Vineet Joshi said the appointment was “unfortunate and disgusting”.

“Till the time she was convicted, she was vying for the top most post in Himachal along with a few others as Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh faced opposition from party heavyweights”, said a Shimla based political observer. They don’t know whom to appoint in Punjab.

“I feel that the main focus of Congress party and workers is Amarinder Singh in Punjab”.

When asked about the opposition alleging that the BJP is putting up these accusations, Hussain said: “We are not accusing, it’s already known to all even to the congress. By keeping a face in front, Rahul Gandhi himself wants to contend the Congress elections under his own command but they have even failed to present a clean face”. “All legal options will be explored in the case”. Though Kumari was granted relief by the Himachal Pradesh High Court, the Supreme Court on December 2, 2011 upheld all the charges against her and transferred the case to the Kangra court from Chamba. “However, she would not continue as AICC Secretary in charge of Haryana, a responsibility she was handling for quite some time under the AICC General Secretary concerned”, AICC sources said. Presently, the matter is sub-judice.

“Raja Prem Singh, elder brother of late Raja Brajendra Singh, in connivance with Prem Kumar Dhumal got a case registered against Asha Kumari in a dispute over ancestral properties of the family into which she is married”, the statement said.

Congress earlier today selected Kumari to replace Kamal Nath as the general secretary in-charge of Punjab ahead of next year’s assembly polls in the state.