Sidhu’s intentions weren’t anti-national, says Capt

Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 18

Days after opposition’s uproar over Navjot Singh Sidhu’s comment on Pulwana terror attack, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder has come to his cabinet colleague’s rescue.

The chief minister, who slammed the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for disrupting the proceedings of the House ahead of the important Budget presentation, said on Monday Sidhu’s intention weren’t “anti-national” and that it was up to him to explain his remarks over the Pulwama attack.

He said everyone had a right to an opinion, and a right to voice it.

“Sidhu is a cricketer while he himself is a soldier, and both had different viewpoints on things,” said Captain Amarinder, adding that the minister must have realised that he had gone “overboard” with his Pakistan visit.

Sidhu did not understand defence intricacies and had possibly reacted out of friendly motivations, the chief minister said. 

Kandahar standoff 

Talking to media outside the assembly, Sidhu hit out at the Vajpyaee-led BJP government for releasing Masood Azhar of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) during the Kandahar standoff in 1999. Without referring to then Intelligence Bureau Chief Ajit Doval, who escorted the three terrorists to Kandahar in Afghanistan, where they were handed over to the Taliban, Sidhu said they should be answerable for freeing the terrorist on Indian soil. 

Sidhu said: “I stand by my statement. Character of a man stems from compromise. There should not compromise on terrorism. The evil designs of the terror should be crushed and those behind it need to be given exemplary punishment as an example for generation to come.  The aim of terror is to affect peace and prosperity of a nation”.