The presence of national BJP general secretary and in charge of Punjab affairs Balbir Punj in the city failed to bring the warring factions to a settlement. BJP Amritsar-North MLA Anil Joshi is adamant to sit in a dharna from Monday, seeking transfer of SSP Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh.

Joshi’s supporters raised slogans against BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu at the Circuit House today, where Punj is staying. Sidhu has been supporting the SSP on the issue.

“I had already said that I will sit in a dharna from Monday,” said Joshi adding the SSP had booked false cases against hundreds of his supporters during Diwali.

The SSP had denied any vendetta and said he was merely enforcing law and he had no intention to target any particular person or supporter of any specific political leader. Punj, who left for Delhi without any success in bringing the internal strife to an end, said he met both the sides and has asked Joshi not to protest.

“His grievances would be addressed as I have appealed the district administration and police officials to listen to the public representatives,” said Punj.

Joshi has support of many party leaders in the city though BJP district chief Col Amrik Singh (retd) has distanced himself from the dharna.

“Leaving aside a group close to Sidhu, all the leaders are with me. I have full support of majority of municipal corporation councillors and the public,” said Joshi. He also accused the SSP of ‘dirty politics’ and misleading his senior party leaders against him after Sidhu’s poor performance during the LS polls.