In Shahkot, Sidhu takes on Badal clan

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Shahkot (Jalandhar), May 23

To boost Congress campaign for the May 28 byelection, Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Wednesday addressed four rallies in favour of Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia.

The minister gave high-voltage speeches loaded with comedy, mimicry and poetry. He held his first rally at Talwandi Madho village. He mainly targeted SAD chief Sukhbir Badal and former minister Bikram Majithia whom he repeatedly called “Fakhr-e-Quam de fukre”, besides the usual names that he uses like “jija-sala” etc.

He took a jibe on Sukhbir over a failed water bus project at Harike, saying: “He probably went to Amsterdam with his dad and insisted upon starting this project wasting Rs 8 crore in the process. He told him chal gya teer nhi tan tukka, ror ke Harike wale panian ch gharuka (meaning he took up the project of water bus in Harike thinking if it works it will be an achievement else just an attempt). I also want to ask him where was his truckload of currency notes that he had promised while canvassing for Arun Jaitley in Amritsar.”

Repeatedly taking up the matter related to a drug report by STF, the minister said: “Sukhbir and Majithia are scared of three Sidhus in the state – STF chief Harpreet Sidhu, me and CM Capt Amarinder Singh, who too is Sidhu”. He also blamed the Akalis for drug problem in Shahkot constituency.

He did not even spare Union Minister Harsimrat Badal whom he mimicked several times over the issue of her offer for resignation if GST is not lifted on langar. “Now that Lok Sabha elections are not far, she says she is ready to resign. Why did she not make this offer earlier?” he asked.