Unmoved, Pargat won't take CPS oath

Jalandhar: A day after Shiromani Akali Dal government made an attempt to placate disgruntled MLA and former Indian hockey captain Pargat Singh by offering him a chief parliamentary secretary (CPS) post, it cut no ice with him on Wednesday as he refused to take oath as CPS.
According to sources, his main grouse for turning down the offer is that a few issues pertaining to his constituency were still unresolved.The hockey star's move has put the Punjab government and SAD top leadership in piquant situation.
Sources in SAD revealed that Pargat has sent a letter to Punjab CM's Parkash Singh Badal, conveying his decision not to take oath, which is unprecedented in the recent history of the party.
Pargat refused to say anything about his oath-taking but admitted that he had sent a letter to the CM. However, he did not divulge the details of the letter.
The squabble between Pargat and top SAD leadership had come to the fore when he skipped 10 functions organized by the SAD and Punjab government in 10 days.
Two of these events were at tended by deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Sources said Pargat has been opposing establishment of solid waste management plant in his constituency in Jamsher village.Notwithstanding his opposition, the state government did not drop the plan and local bodies department minister Anil Joshi also supported it. Mandatory clearances were issued. “This is the main reason behind his refusal to take oath as CPS as he had earlier declared that come what may he would not let the plant come up in his constituency ,“ said a source. BJP has been pushing for the project as it would help treat garbage from over two dozen municipal bodies in Doaba region. Rebel MLA from Amritsar South Inderbir Singh Bolaria was dropped as CPS on Tuesday following his opposition to a waste management plant in his constituency.
The move to elevate Pargat as CPS along with six others was aimed at placating him after he stayed away from SAD functions.He had not attended a function at Uggi village in Nakodar constituency on April 11where Sukhbir Badal had launched the health insurance scheme for farmers. He again skipped a dharna organized by the party outside district administration complex against AAP's Delhi government on SYL canal issue and demolition of a water kiosk outside gurdwara Sis Ganj in Delhi.