Reacting to the entire issue in his trademark style, Sidhu made it clear that Punjab’s interest was “paramount” for him.
Saying that it was important to take a stand, Sidhu said: “In the war of right or wrong, you can’t afford to be neutral rather than being self-centered. Punjab’s interest is paramount.”
At the same time, Sidhu maintained that he had become Rajya Sabha MP at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi keeping in mind 'the welfare of Punjab'.
“At the behest of the honourable Prime Minister, I had accepted the Rajya Sabha nomination for the welfare of Punjab. With the closure of every window leading to Punjab, the purpose stands defeated,” he said after his resignation from the BJP.
Describing his post as a “burden”, he said: “It is now a mere burden, I prefer not to carry it.”
He said that the people of Punjab are looking for a change.
This, however, is not the first time that Sidhu has tendered his resignation from the Parliament. In December 2006, he quit from lok Sabha when he was convicted in an 18-year-old road rage case.
Again in July 2009, it was reported that Sidhu quit the Parliament due to a few developments in the Punjab BJP unit. However, he had sent his resignation letter to the party leadership and not to the Speaker of lok Sabha. His resignation was not accepted and he continued to be in the party and in the Parliament as an MP.