Rebel voice against Sidhu within Congress

| | Chandigarh
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Rebel voice against Sidhu within Congress

Saturday, 27 November 2021 | Monika Malik | Chandigarh

Whispers in the corridors of the Congress against the public outburst by Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu are gradually turning boisterous with some of his own party colleagues now objecting to his media campaign against his party-led Government and its leaders.

The voices of Opposition against Sidhu were raised by those leaders who vociferously demanded his elevation to the party’s top post. And the opposition came after Sidhu did not take a softer line in attacking his own party’s Government notwithstanding repeated attempts of peace-making. However, the flashing point came when Sidhu did not spare his predecessor and senior Congress leader Sunil Jakhar while addressing the media at Amritsar on Friday.

In what is being seen as a possibility of rebellion brewing against Sidhu, Congress legislators - Kulbir Singh Zira and Barindermeet Singh Pahara - have raised their voices against Sidhu’s attitude, while asking their state party chief to raise issues only at the party platform.

Both Zira and Pahara were among a section of party legislators who led the campaign to appoint Sidhu as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president, and eventually ousting the then Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.

They were of the opinion that in case Sidhu has any issues or have something to say, “He should speak on the party forum”.

“Navjot Sidhu is right that people ask questions. But if you want to talk, then he should sit and talk with the Chief Minister or Deputy Chief Minister. The solution to such issues can be found only by sitting together,” said Zira, Congress MLA from Zira. Pahara, Gurdaspur MLA, though supported Sidhu’s demand to make the STF report on drugs public, and we all wanted that too and are working for it. “Sidhu is the president of the party and is putting pressure on the Government in his own way. But I think, he should talk about this on the party platform,” he added.

SIDHU-JAKHAR  FACE-OFF

Sidhu on Friday attacked Jakhar for never raising the issues of sacrilege and drugs like him when he was the PPCC president, but now posting tweets after tweets. “saade pehlan de pardhan...jo tweeto tweet hoyi jaande hain....kade chhukki uhna ne ehho ji gal...,” said Sidhu while interacting with the media.

Jakhar responded Sidhu with a couplet by Akbar Allahabadi. “But hum ko kahe kaafir, allah ki marzi hai; suraj mein lage dhabba, fitrat ke karishmein hain...Barkat jo nahi hoti, niyat ki kharabi hai.” Jakhar has apparently addressed Sidhu as a kafir, for switching from BJP to the Congress, reminding him that he was not a traditional Congressman.

Jakhar, it seems, has lashed out at Sidhu for engaging in such rhetoric, while describing it as the will of the party high command. He also raised questions on Sidhu’s intentions by for the prevailing crisis within the Congress party in Punjab.

SIDHU LOSING SUPPORT BASE?

It is believed that the voices of discontentment against Sidhu is gaining ground amidst the growing support of the Taksali (traditional) Congressmen, especially the veteran leaders of the state’s Majha region. Notably, Majha’s three senior leaders and the Ministers — Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, and Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria — led the oust Capt Amarinder campaign, and vociferously supported Sidhu. However, their relationship has witnessed a downfall.

SIDHU INTENSIFIES ATTACK AGAINST CONG GOVT

Notably, Sidhu has all along been taking on his own party’s government over the issues of sacrilege and drugs, besides many others. A day after threatening to go on a hunger strike against his own government over pending issues, Sidhu on Friday addressed the media highlighting how the Congress Government is allegedly failing, especially on the issues of sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib and smuggling of drugs.

“Sacrilege and drug issues were the foundation of our party’s government in Punjab in 2017. It was also the foundation to become the CM. So, it is my duty to raise these issues,” he said.

He asked despite the Court’s directions to take action on STF report, “who is stopping us (Congress Government)? Whose fear is stopping us from doing anything?”

Asking where is the chargesheet in sacrilege cases, Sidhu said: “How can there be a chargesheet when you yourself arrange a blanket bail for former DGP Sumedh Saini. What is the intent of the government? I am often asked if Saini got blanket bail, then have you filed any SLP to challenge it on September 10?”

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