Days after Punjab’s former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh hinted at possible resolution to the farmers’ issue which may eventually pave way for him joining forces with the saffron brigade ahead 2022 state assembly polls, Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Thursday called the Congress veteran the “architect” of the Centre’s three farm laws against which farmers have been protesting at the Delhi borders.
Sidhu, finally breaking his silence on Capt Amarinder’s future plans after two days of his announcement, took to Twitter to share over a decade-old video of the former Chief Minister, and captioning it, “The Architect of 3 Black Laws…Who brought Ambani to Punjab’s Kisani…Who destroyed Punjab’s Farmers, Small traders and Labour for benefiting 1-2 Big Corporates (sic)!!”
In the video compilation, shared by Sidhu, Capt Amarinder was heard saying that he tried to bring private investment in agriculture. “I talked to Mukesh Ambani in his field-to-fork program, they have got 98,000 outlets in India. He was going to give us three vegetable crops. They were going to give us seeds, tell us how to look after it, and buy it from the farmers in the field,” he had stated.
Sidhu’s remark came two days after Capt Amarinder said that he would launch his own political party and that he was hopeful of a seat arrangement with the BJP, provided the ongoing farmers’ stir against farm laws was resolved in the agriculturists’ interest.
Capt Amarinder, who faced an unceremonious exit from the State Government a month back that was orchestrated by Sidhu, had also stated that he was looking at an alliance with like-minded parties such as breakaway Akali groups.
Hitting back, Capt Amarinder took a dig at Sidhu claiming that he was “clueless about the interests of Punjab and its farmers”, adding that it would be “dreadful” for the State if Sidhu’s “dream of leading Punjab” comes true.
“What a fraud and cheat you are Navjot Singh Sidhu! You’re trying to pass off my 15-year-old crop diversification initiative as connected with farm laws, against which I’m still fighting and with which I’ve linked my own political future,” Capt Amarinder said in reaction to an old video shared by Sidhu.
Retorting, Capt Amarinder said: “It’s obvious you’re clueless about Punjab’s and its farmers’ interests. You clearly don’t know the difference between diversification and what the farm laws are all about. And yet you dream of leading Punjab. How dreadful if that ever happens!”
Capt Amarinder went on to add, “And it’s hilarious that you’ve chosen to post this video at a time when Congress govt in Punjab is going all out to promote its upcoming Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit. Or are you opposed to that too?” Furthermore, Capt Amarinder minced no words to say that the Congress has damaged its own interests by not trusting him and giving in to the hands of “an unstable person” like Navjot Singh Sidhu, “who’s only loyal to himself”.
Notably, Capt Amarinder had resigned as Punjab Chief Minister in September amid a bitter power tussle with Sidhu. Punjab’s first Dalit Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi had replaced Capt Amarinder. Hundreds of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at the Delhi borders since November 26 last year, demanding the repeal of the three farm laws.
DON'T TALK ABOUT SECULARISM: CAPT BLASTS CONG
Coming down heavily on the Punjab Congress party affairs in-charge Harish Rawat over his “secularism” remark aimed at Capt Amarinder, the former Chief Minister on Thursday blasted the grand-old party and questioned its ‘secularism’ while pointing out to its alliance with Shiv Sena in Maharashtra and induction of leaders from the BJP and RSS, including Navjot Singh Sidhu.
“The Congress is no one to talk about secularism,” he said while pointing out that Sidhu remained in BJP for 14 years, and Pargat Singh was in Akali Dal for four years, prior to joining Congress.
Questioning Rawat, Capt Amarinder quipped, “It was ok to join forces with so-called communal parties as long as it suits Congress purpose. What’s this if not sheer political opportunism?” “Today you’re accusing me of helping my rival Akali Dal for four and a half years. I have been fighting court cases against them for the last 10 years,” said the former Chief Minister replying to charges levelled by Rawat.
Capt Amarinder’s sharp comments were directed at Rawat who had stated that nobody can stop the former Chief Minister “if he can’t stay with his old commitment to secularism”.
