Shiromani Akali Dal on Monday lashed at Navjot Singh Sidhu, saying he practised politics of opportunism and bargained for a better deal and that people reject those who give up on their principles.
A sharply critical Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said Sidhu “ditched” the very party which gave him respect.
“The person who has left his mother party (BJP), one which gave him respect, handheld him... what can be worse than this, he ditched the very party,” he told reporters in his home constituency of lambi.
“Till the end, he kept bargaining... What can I say about such persons. People do not respect such individuals. They respect only those who stand by principles and reject those who bargain and give up on their principles,” he said.
Punjab cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia took a dig at Sidhu and said: “He replicates in real life his actions in the laughter challenge, a TV show.”
“Sidhu has conveniently forgotten the words he once spoke about Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. This means you are only doing politics of opportunism and nothing else,” he said.
Union Minister and SAD’s Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal said Sidhu bargained with BJP, AAP and Congress for a “better deal”.
“He is least concerned about people and only wants to serve his selfish interests. Such people enter politics for this purpose only,” she said and alleged the cricketer-turned -politician had defamed the Punjabis on drug issue.
SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal had called him an “over rated comedian”.
AAP too SlAMS SIDHU
AAP campaign committee chairman Bhagwant Mann on Monday accused former BJP MP Navjot Sidhu for playing in the hands of anti-Punjab powers. In a statement, Mann said Sidhu had many times accused the Congress for 1984 anti-Sikh riots and for the emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He had called the Congress ‘Munni Badnam’ and Rahul Gandhi ‘Pappu’ who is mentally handicapped.
Mann said Sidhu had no ideology and no sincerity for Punjab. He is as wicked as Sukhbir Badal. Mann said Sidhu had demanded Chief Minister’s post from the AAP and now he should reveal the deal struck with Congress party. He said that if the Congress was thinking Sidhu would save their sinking ship, it would be biggest foolishness and proves that the Congress has no idea of ground realities in Punjab.
The AAP leader said Sidhu’s belated entry into the Congress will not dent the spirit of people of Punjab and curtain would fall for the Congress and the SAD-BJP alliance on February 4. He called on people of Punjab to defeat the sinister designs of two feudal families who wanted to rule Punjab turn by turn. “AAP will make a clean sweep in Punjab and form the next Government,” Mann asserted.