‘Pact’ between Badals, Capt behind Sidhu’s ouster: Parties

CHANDIGARH: Immediately after Navjot Singh Sidhu announced his resignation from the Cabinet, Bains brothers offered him to lead them as a CM candidate in the 2022 elections, while Sukhpal Khaira and Taksalis said he paid the price for speaking against the “secret pact” between Badals and Captain Amarinder Singh.

Harpal Singh Cheema, Leader of opposition

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 14

Immediately after Navjot Singh Sidhu announced his resignation from the Cabinet, Bains brothers offered him to lead them as a CM candidate in the 2022 elections, while Sukhpal Khaira and Taksalis said he paid the price for speaking against the “secret pact” between Badals and Captain Amarinder Singh.

However, the Aam Aadmi Party appealed to Sidhu to quit the Congress.

AAP leader and Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema alleged that Sidhu’s outburst against the 10-year misrule of the Badals didn’t suit Capt Amarinder Singh. He said Sidhu’s political clout was increasing day-by day, which made Capt Amarinder insecure. “Sidhu had to pay the price for this. He should now resign from the Congress as well,” he said.

Cheema said instead of resigning abruptly, he should have taken charge of the power department and cancelled all the power purchase agreements signed by the previous government. Sunam MLA Aman Arora said before resigning, Sidhu had an opportunity to expose the previous as well as the present governments’ nefarious designs by scrapping PPA’s with three private thermal plants, “which have been given the license to loot the state for next 25 years”.

Khaira said Capt Amarinder had targeted Sidhu because of his “truthful” outburst in Bathinda during the Lok Sabha polls exposing the friendly match between Captain and the Badals. Khaira alleged the reshuffle was an eyewash aimed at isolating Sidhu to teach him a lesson for exposing the nexus between the two feudal families.

Khaira said Sidhu was becoming popular for his outspoken behaviour, particularly after the Kartarpur corridor issue and his close ties with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. He also urged Sidhu to quit the Congress and join the third front to “liberate Punjab from the clutches of traditional corrupt and feudal leaders”.

In a separate reaction, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Taksali) also said it was a common strategy of both Capt Amarinder and the Badals to corner Sidhu. Party leader Sewa Singh Sekhwan said he was doing good job as the Local Bodies Minister, but his department was changed to humiliate him.

Sidhu’s outburst against the 10-year misrule of the Badals didn’t suit Captain. His political clout was increasing, which made the CM insecure. Sidhu paid the price for this. He should now resign from the Congress. —Harpal Singh Cheema, Leader of opposition