Sidhu once again exhibited 'shifty' character: Amarinder (Ld)
Darpan News Desk IANS, 28 Sep, 2021 10:52 AM
New Delhi, Sep 28 (IANS) Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said on Tuesday that Navjot Singh Sidhu's resignation as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief within two months of taking over the vital post has proved beyond doubt that the cricketer-turned-politician is an "unstable" man, who could not be relied upon to lead the ruling party, especially in a border state like Punjab.
Terming Sidhu's resignation as sheer drama, Amarinder Singh said the move suggests that his former Cabinet colleague is preparing the ground to quit the Congress and join hands with some other party in the run-up to the Assembly polls scheduled next year.
"I have been saying all along that this man is unstable and dangerous, and cannot be entrusted with the task of running Punjab," said Amarinder Singh, adding that Sidhu had also proved to be absolutely incompetent during his stint as a minister in his government.
Amarinder Singh, who arrived in Delhi on a personal visit on Tuesday, told mediapersons at the airport that Punjab is a sensitive state, sharing over 600 km of border with Pakistan, and Sidhu's close links with his cricketer friend, Imran Khan, and ISI chief, Qamar Javed Bajwa, are a serious threat to India's national security.
He said that by resigning within two months of taking over as the PPCC chief, Sidhu has once again exhibited his "shifty" character.
"I've known this boy since his childhood and he has been a loner and can never be a team player," said Amarinder Singh, recalling how the cricketer had deserted the Indian team in 1996 in England.
"That's what his real character is," said the former Chief Minister.
Describing Sidhu as a "flamboyant" speaker, Amarinder Singh said what he speaks in public meetings or rallies may make people laugh but it's all froth, with no substance.
"People don't vote for buffoonery," he said, adding that no one takes him (Sidhu) seriously.
Replying to a question that Sidhu was apparently upset with the inclusion of certain ministers in Charanjit Singh Channi's Cabinet, Amarinder Singh said that the PPCC chief apparently wanted to run the government by remote control.
"Cabinet formation is the prerogative of the Chief Minister, so why should Sidhu interfere in it," he asked.
On Sidhu's claim that he was quitting as the party chief on matters of principle, Amarinder Singh said, "What principles is he talking about? He's only making grounds to quit the Congress. You just wait and see, he will join hands with some other party very soon."
Replying to a question, the former Chief Minister said that the Congress high command should immediately accept Sidhu's resignation and appoint some competent man in his place.
When asked if he would back former PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar for the job, Amarinder Singh said, "He (Jakhar) is very competent and had performed exceeding well as the party chief."
Scotching speculation that he is in Delhi to meet senior BJP leaders, Amarinder Singh said he had come on a personal visit, with the main intent of vacating the Kapurthala House for the new Chief Minister of Punjab.
Canada's decision to ban direct flights from India till September 21 while allowing vaccinated family-class passengers and students from all other countries has not gone down well with the Indo-Canadian community. As a result of the ban, Indian students and family-class returnees are taking indirect routes to reach Canada, costing them $4,000-$6,000 per person.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha on Wednesday claimed that the Independence Day announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) has been increased by 1.5 times is incorrect and the announced MSP is not being realised by all farmers despite his commitment in the Parliament.
The incumbent pontiff, Arunagirinatha Gnanasambantha Desika Paramacharya Swamigal, passed away at a private hospital in Madurai on August 13 due to respiratory illness. He had been the pontiff of Madurai Aadheenam for four decades.
BJP Delhi Yuva Morcha president Vasu Rukhar told IANS that the Pakistan government must apologise and install a grand statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh where it was demolished in Lahore.
The doses were seized by authorities in India and Africa between July and August, a WHO statement said. It also said the vaccine's maker, the Serum Institute of India, confirmed that the doses were fake.
Prominent hospitals in Gurugram have claimed that a huge dip in admission of foreign nationals have been witnessed due to the ongoing Covid pandemic, while the latest political tussle in Afghanistan will also have a huge impact on medical tourism in Gurugram.
