CHANDIGARH: Differences between! Chief Minister Beant Singh and police chief K.P. S Gill have reached at a flash point. While Beant Singh is trying hard to ensure that Gillis pulled out of Punjab the latter in a counter move has started lobbying in Delhi to have Santokh Singh Randhawa Inducted as Punjab Congress (I) chief in place of Beant Singh who at present holds dual charge.
Under the civil service rules Gill is not expected to indulge in any party politics but it is well known that the police chief is deeply involved in the ruling party’s polices He is fully aware of the fact that he would be acceptable only to the Congress (I) for whose benefit he has done all the dirty work in Punjab all these years.
Gill’s ambition is to become governor of a state but his plans are going awry. He is running his second post retirement year which perhaps will be the last. Gill’s latest bet is Randhawa. He would like to use his services to persuade the prime minister to pull him out Of Punjab in a respectable manner. Already Beant Singh has started sending signals to Gill that his days in Punjab are numbered. The helicopter given to Gill all these years had been taken back by the Punjab government. Gill has had to do all the touring by his official car in Punjab.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 4, 1994
