Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu has landed himself in yet another controversy — this time for allegedly running down Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit
Singh Channi and projecting himself as the “ideal” choice for the top job.
When Sidhu organised a protest march towards Lakhimpur Kheri from Mohali to protest the “brutal” killing of farmers in Uttar Pradesh’s district, the intention was also to project a united front. Both Sidhu and Channi were to share a common platform but former cricketer’s alleged remarks, that went viral on the social media on late Thursday evening, have not only brought to fore the still existent rift between the party’s top brass but also his desire to catapult himself to the coveted post.
Sidhu, who had resigned as the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president on September 28 over the key appointments in the Channi-led Government, is yet to formally withdraw his resignation. It has been learnt that the party high command has given him a week’s time to take back his resignation, which he announced via social media.
In viral video clips ahead of the start of the protest march, Sidhu looked upset because he had to wait for Chief Minister Channi’s arrival, and was caught on camera criticising his party.
The video in question shows Sidhu’s close aide and Cabinet Minister Pargat Singh trying to pacify him by saying Channi would join them soon. Punjab Congress’ one of four working presidents Sukhwinder Singh Danny then tells Sidhu that the march would be successful.
“Where is the success? If Bhagwant Sidhu’s son (a reference to his father) was allowed to lead, then you would have seen the success... Congress is in a dying stage...” replied
Sidhu resentfully, while using a swear word.
“This man (Channi) will sink the Congress in 2022 (Assembly election),” Sidhu is heard saying in the video.
CONG’s SC CM CARD STAND EXPOSED: SAD
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday said that the Scheduled Caste card played by the Congress to divert attention from its failures in Punjab had boomeranged on the party with the State Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu asserting that a SC Chief Minister could not deliver the goods for the party.
“Pradesh Congress president had also shown how much respect he had for the SC community and Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi by refusing to wait for even two minutes for the latter to arrive on the occasion of the start of the party’s protest on the Lakhimpur Kheri incident issue,” said SAD senior vice president Daljit Singh Cheema.
Cheema said Sidhu had also shown how jealous he was that a SC had been made the Chief Minister by stating that nothing was right and that things could become fine only if “Bhagwant Singh Sidhu’s son” (Navjot Sidhu) was made Chief Minister of the State.
“Sidhu also said that the Congress ship was sinking and that there was no future for the Congress in Punjab
under the present dispensation,” he said.
Cheema said it was clear from Sidhu’s utterances that he had no love lost for farmers and their cause and that he was only indulging in a game of one-upmanship to secure the top post in the State.
“Such persons who keep their own ambition above the welfare of the people cannot give any direction to the State. They stand thoroughly exposed. Now Congress president Sonia Gandhi should tell Punjabis why she tried to fool them by making a SC Chief Minister of the State but simultaneously reposing faith in Sidhu who was bent on undermining the Chief Minister,” he said.