Comment twisted, says Navjot Kaur Sidhu after row over 'Rs 500 crore' remark

Amid a political row over her 'Rs 500 crore for chief minister's chair' remark, Congress leader Navjot Kaur Sidhu has said a twist was given to her "straight comment".

"I am shocked to see the twist given to a straight comment saying that our Congress party has never demanded anything from us. On being asked about Navjot becoming a CM face from any other party, I stated that we have no money to offer for a CM post," Kaur said in a post on X on Sunday evening.

Former Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu's wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu had triggered a row on Saturday by claiming that "one who gives a suitcase of Rs 500 crore becomes the CM".

Also read: 'Rs 500 crore to become Punjab CM': Congress leader Shivakumar asks Navjot Kaur Sidhu to get admitted to ‘mental hospital’

Speaking to reporters, Kaur had said her husband will return to active politics if the Congress declares him as the party's chief ministerial face in Punjab.

She said they do not have money to give to any party but can transform Punjab into a "golden state".

"We always speak for Punjab and Punjabiyat...but do not have Rs 500 crore which we can give to sit in chief minister's chair," she told reporters on Saturday after meeting Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on issues, including alleged deteriorating law and order in the state.

When asked if anybody demanded money from them, she said nobody has demanded but the "one who gives a suitcase of Rs 500 crore he becomes the CM".

Following her statement, the BJP and AAP claimed that her comments exposed the "ugly truth" of how the grand old party functions, and the "money bag politics" it indulges in.