Notice issued hours after Sidhu lashed out at Punjab CM Man
A political storm brewed in Moga on Sunday as the organizers of cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu’s rally received a notice from the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) just two hours after the event concluded.
The notice, issued by Congress' Moga in-charge Malvika Sood and signed by PPCC general secretary Capt Sandeep Sandhu, sought an explanation from party’s former Moga District unit president Maheshinder Singh and his son Dharampal Singh within two days. The notice also issued a warning, stating that if a satisfactory response is not received, the party will take disciplinary action against them.
The show cause notice asked why the local leaders were informed about the rally. The notice also emphasized the importance of internal consultation before organizing such events and warned of disciplinary action if party protocols were not adhered to.
The internal strife within the Congress party underscores the challenges of maintaining unity and discipline, especially as political leaders chart their courses independently. Sidhu's penchant for organizing individual rallies without consulting the party's Punjab unit leadership has been a point of contention, with several leaders seeking action against him.
Interestingly, even as the PPCC had also issued noticed to several other party leaders on the grounds of “indiscipline”, no action has reportedly been initiated against Sidhu, as of now. Moreover, a section of state party leaders, during their meeting with Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi in December last, had also raised the issue of Sidhu going against the party line.
Notwithstanding stern warning against indiscipline by the state’s party affairs in-charge Devendra Yadav and despite opposition from leaders within the state Congress unit, Sidhu went on to conduct a massive rally in Moga on Sunday. After the event, Capt Sandhu wasted no time in issuing a notice seeking clarification on the reasons behind organizing the rally.
Meanwhile, in a fiery rally in Moga, Sidhu launched a scathing attack on the AAP Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing them of presiding over a “rule of thieves” in the State. The event, titled ‘Jittega Punjab, Jittegi Congress’, marked Sidhu's fourth rally, with previous ones held in Bathinda and Hoshiarpur.
Sidhu's rallying cry focused on challenging Chief Minister Mann to a public debate on issues critical to Punjab, such as the state’s escalating debt. The seasoned politician dared Mann to engage in a live debate on Facebook, stating that if he lost, “I would quit politics permanently” — setting the stage for potential confrontations between the two.
Expressing concerns over the alleged deterioration of law and order in Punjab, Sidhu questioned the safety of its residents. He claimed that the business community was migrating to other states due to prevailing conditions, signaling potential economic challenges for the state.