Navjot Singh Sidhu cites Congress ‘darkest’ era, Raja Warring aide hits back

Rajmeet Singh

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Chandigarh, January 22

Sunday’s Moga rally, which was attended by former Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, has become a flashpoint between him and PPCC chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring.

This happens amid PPCC issuing show-cause notice to Maheshinder Singh, party leader from Moga, and his son for not informing the local leadership about the rally.

The party feud is being played out at a time when Punjab affairs in-charge Devendra Yadav is coming to Punjab to hold parliamentary level workers’ meetings from January 23 to 25.

In reaction, Sidhu took to ‘X’ today stating that “Will stand by the Nihalsinghwala family (referring to Maheshinder), come what may…Third generation Congress family — the roots of the grand old party. There cannot be any fruit without the root!!!”

Sidhu comments came a short while after a close associate of Warring, Durlabh Singh, took on the cricketer-turned-politician on his statement that he would pull the Congress out of the darkest phase. In a cryptic comment, Durlabh wrote on ‘X’: “Which darkest phase? These are like abuses to the Congressmen who have toiled for the past two years.”

A senior leader said the issue is that Sidhu is participating in rallies being organised without taking the PPCC into the loop. Some senior Punjab Congress leaders are learnt to have asked AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and AICC general secretary KC Venugopal to rein in the former PPCC chief.

Yesterday, PPCC chief Warring had on record stated that he had written to the party high command regarding the Moga rally being held without his consent. Earlier this month, a war of words had erupted between Sidhu and Warring when Punjab affairs in-charge was in the state.

Warring had stated that the party’s programmes should be held in consultation with the state unit. Without naming anyone, Warring said those who become a “spoilsport” would have to face the consequences. “The party’s programme should be held according to the state unit president’s wishes. But Warring has a big heart. I have no insecurity from anyone. Some people have a good height, but a small heart and they feel threatened,” he stated.

In reaction, Sidhu had posted a cryptic video message on X saying spineless leaders who cannot stand for what is right are now talking big. Sidhu sarcastically said: ‘Kaudi kaudi bikey hue log, samjhauta karke ghutno pe tike hue log. Bargad ki baat karte hain, gamle me uge hue log’. Though Sidhu did not name anyone, his post appeared to be targeting Warring and his detractors within the party.

The party feud is being played out at a time when Punjab affairs in-charge Devendra Yadav is coming to Punjab to hold parliamentary level workers’ meetings from January 23 to 25.