Chandigarh: Former Punjab chief minister and Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi on Thursday said he had obtained written permission from the Congress high command to miss the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in New Delhi because he had to appear for an examination at Panjab University.
The CWC, the Congress’s highest decision-making body, met in Delhi on Wednesday to discuss issues including the students’ agitation over the alleged paper leak and the Ram Mandir donation controversy.
Explaining his absence, Channi said he had sought permission from the party leadership in writing. “If I had missed my examination, my degree would have been delayed by a year, which would also have delayed the research work I want to undertake,” he said.
Channi pursuing higher studies
Channi, who already holds a PhD in Political Science from Panjab University, is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Administration. Thursday was his final examination for the course.
He said he plans to continue his academic work with research on policy reforms and ways to put Punjab on the path of development.
Channi said he had been pursuing his studies for the past four-and-a-half years and intended to continue his research through a PhD programme at Panjab University.
Promises policy reforms if Congress returns to power
Speaking about the next Punjab government, Channi expressed confidence that Congress would return to power and said the party would introduce reforms aimed at preventing government employees from engaging in corruption.
He also spoke of providing free education and free healthcare to people if Congress forms the next government in Punjab, saying the party would implement such a model in the state.
