The Punjab Government on Friday saved its wicket by ducking the bouncer hurled by cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu.
Hours before the BJP MP from Amritsar was to begin his fast-unto-death, the Government acceded to his demands. However, Sidhu insisted that in the absence of any official communication to him in this regard, he would observe the indefinite fast.
“I will not back out till the time I receive an official confirmation that the Government has agreed to complete all projects in a stipulated timeframe….that is all I have been demanding. As of now, I am going to Hall Bazaar tomorrow at 11.30 am,” Sidhu told The Pioneer.
Punjab Government’s decision to buckle under pressure by Sidhu’s announcement to resort to Satyagrah came after a day-long drama at Chandigarh and Amritsar. As Sidhu announced his hunger strike in Amritsar, BJP's senior leadership, including State party affairs in-charge Shanta Kumar and State party chief Kamal Sharma went into huddle with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
later, Deputy Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Badal held hours-long meeting with Kamal Sharma, State local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi and Amritsar Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora along with other senior government functionaries to review the status of the ongoing projects in Amritsar worth Rs 730 crore. Besides, new projects of Rs 1309 crore envisaged for the holy city were also discussed. During the meeting, Sukhbir fixed the deadlines for all Amritsar development projects, including those raised by Sidhu.