Yes, Sidhu has quit BJP, I haven''t, says wife

CHANDIGARH: Amritsar lawmaker Navjot Kaur Sidhu, wife of cricketer-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, confirmed her husband’s innings with the BJP had come to an end. She called the Aam Aadmi Party “the better alternative”, but refused to confirm if her husband was joining the party.

BJP legislator Navjot Kaur Sidhu talks to the press in Amritsar on July 19, 2016. Tribune photo: Vishal Kumar

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 19

Amritsar lawmaker Navjot Kaur Sidhu, cricketer-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu’s wife, confirmed her husband’s innings with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had come to an end, putting paid to speculations over the leader’s association with the party.

“Doors closed for Sidhu when the BJP didn't endorse their idea of snapping ties with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Punjab ahead of 2017 polls. Sidhu resigned from Rajya Sabha as BJP leadership chose Badals over him. We had clearly said we would not participate in any way, if the BJP formed an alliance with the SAD in 2017 elections. BJP chose to continue the alliance, so it was understood that doors were closed for us. Moreover, as Rajya Sabha member also, Sidhu wanted to serve for Punjab, but BJP seldom have it on its list of priorities. So, he felt suffocated,” Sidhu, the Chief Parliamentary Secretary of the SAD-BJP alliance, said.

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She however said that she would remain with the party.

“Though I follow my husband in every sense, I am still with the BJP as I have the liability to serve the people of my constituency who elected me as MLA. He (Sidhu) is yet to decide on his next step. Technically, he is no more a member of the BJP party after resigning from the Rajya Sabha. Let him come out to speak his heart and declare it openly."

Read: Sidhu welcome to join Congress, says Capt Amarinder

The legislator from Amritsar also admitted to being “impressed with” the Aam Aadmi Party’s ideology and even hinted at it being the only party to “transform Punjab”, but Sidhu — also Chief Parliamentary Secretary in the SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab — refused to confirm reports that Sidhu may join the AAP.

Read: Sidhu mocking at Kejriwal video clips go viral on social media

“I personally like the work culture of the AAP party. Kejriwal (AAP’s national convener and Delhi Chief Minister) himself works at the ground level and I appreciate AAP’s ideology”, she said.

“AAP is the better alternative”, she said, although she would not admit to whether the couple was going to join the party.

Read: Sidhu sheds Rajya Sabha ‘burden’, quits

She claimed the SAD-BJP “had failed to deliver in Punjab” and criticised Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for calling the couple “opportunistic” saying: “ Badal himself is the most opportunistic person”.

Sidhu announced he was quitting his position as Rajya Sabbha MP — a position that BJP nominated him to not three months ago — on Monday citing his disappointment with the party.

In a statement, Sidhu had said he “accepted the Rajya Sabha nomination for the welfare of Punjab” at the behest of the Prime Minister.

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“With the closure of every window leading to Punjab, the purpose stands defeated... now a mere burden. I prefer not to carry it. In the war of right or wrong, you can’t afford to be neutral or self-centred,” he said.

Sidhu’s quitting the Rajya Sabha position sparked talks of his possibly joining the AAP.