The political triangle with BJP-SAD on one side, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on the other two sides on Thursday received another dimension with the launching of Awaaz-e-Punjab.
Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, in his characteristic thoko taali style, made it clear that the forum was here to make a lot of din. Though he did not say in so many words that the party would contest elections in Punjab but its presence would have a definite effect on the final outcome of the elections.
The party is expected to harm the prospects of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has recently emerged as an “alternative” against the SAD-BJP combine and the Congress for the people of Punjab.
A home for dynasty politics and mired with issues like drugs, unemployment, corruption, law and order, farm crisis, among others, AAP has emerged as a new lease of life for Punjab, which had been ruled by the SAD-BJP since a decade.
AAP, which was presently bogged down by one controversy or the other, is also expected to lose many of its leaders too. Top on the list is its sacked convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur. Available information suggests that Chhotepur, along with other senior party leaders, will join Awaaz-e-Punjab.
The move of Chhotepur, who had worked for the AAP till grassroot level and become the party’s face in the elections, to join the fourth front may give a major jolt to the AAP.
What would also help motor-mouth Sidhu in building his forum into actual Awaaz-e-Punjab (voice of Punjab) in just about less than six months left for Punjab polls is his charisma, coupled with the strong anti-incumbency factor. And in the process, it is expected to cut into AAP’s vote share, than other traditional parties.
Things would have been different in case Sidhu had decided to hold the ‘broom’, instead of floating a new forum. But, Sidhu, unhappy with the “anarchistic” face of the AAP and its convener Kejriwal, in the garb of democracy, has changed the equations.
KEJRIWAl WANTS YES-MAN
Kejriwal only want “yes men” to join his ranks, said Sidhu.
“I have projected (Gurpreet) Ghuggi (AAP’s Punjab convener) and (Bhagwant) Mann (AAP’s Sangrur MP) as my younger brothers…we all would have looked better…I would have looked better,” said Sidhu hinting that if he had became the part of AAP, it would act as a trump card to win 2017 elections.
Attacking Kejriwal, Sidhu said that there was anarchy in the garb of democracy in AAP. “Three people are running the thirty lakh Punjabis,” he said.
“He feels others have no right to say that they are honest. I am sitting here with people who are here to help Punjab. I am ready to give my life for Punjab...Kejriwal is always trying to indulge in one-upmanship and take credit and no one else is allowed to do so," said Sidhu, who was flanked by Olympian and SAD “suspended” MlA Pargat Singh and Bains brothers - Simarjeet and Balwinder.
WE ARE All FOR PUNJAB
Making it clear that forum was formed for the sake of Punjab, the former cricketer said: “We want to shake the system that has ruined Punjab. It can only happen when like-minded people get together.”
“We invite all those without any selfish motives to come together and unitedly fight for the state and help in the resurrection, redemption and revival of Punjab,” he said.
He said: “We have united to help Punjab win. And this time Punjab will win and so will Punjabiyat and the people of the state. Once considered the granary of the country has now turned into a begging bowl which is deep in debt.”
Sidhu claimed that people have suffered in the hands of five years of Congress government led by Capt Amarinder Singh and during the last 10 years of 'danda tantra' (rule of the stick) where, he alleged, false cases were slapped on people and votes were secured forcibly and through polarisation. He also said there was discrimination on the basis of caste, colour and creed. “We are not fighting for personal gains but for Punjab's better future," he said.
AAP IS EAST INDIA COMPANY
Targeting AAP, he said, “The East India company came with 40,000 troops and ruled over 40 crore people in India. like that, the Central India Company has sent 40 people and want to rule over Punjab by dividing the people of Punjab. There is no difference. They talk to individuals and people are told and never heard.”
‘ASK BJP WHETHER I AM STIll WITH THEM’
Not giving a clear reply whether he and his MlA wife, Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, have parted ways with the BJP, Sidhu asked the media persons to pose this query to the BJP.
“Ask BJP whether Sidhu has left BJP,” said he while adding that things would be clear in the coming 15-20 days.
BADAl IS 'Dhritarashtra'
Mincing no words, Sidhu equated Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal with 'Dhritarashtra' who has closed his eyes and can’t see what his son is doing.
“Badals have ruined Punjab and it is duty of every person who loves Punjab to oust Badals…To let me down, Badals have stopped development of Amritsar…Projects of Rs 2000 were announced (by Sukhbir Badal) for Amritsar and after so many years, the foundation stones are standing alone,” he said.
CONG, SAD ARE TWO SIDES OF SAME COIN
lashing out at Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh and Badal, Sidhu said that both leaders had lived their life and too old to run the affairs. “Both of them are hand-in-glove… Natha Singh and Prem Singh are one and the same thing,” he said while alleging that they abuse each other in the day and meet at farm house in the evening.