Sidhu 'Incompetent, Threat To National Security': Amarinder Says Won't Accept Him As Punjab CM

In a dramatic turn of events amid the ongoing rift within Punjab Congress, Capt Amarinder Singh handed over his resignation to Governor Banwari Lal Purohit. 

Captain Amarinder Singh addressing media after resigning as Punjab CM. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: After handing over his resignation on Saturday, former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh termed Navjot Singh Sidhu an “incompetent man” and a “threat to national security”, saying the Punjab Congress chief is going to be a disaster if chosen as his successor.

“Navjot Singh Sidhu is an incompetent man, he is going to be a disaster. I will oppose his name for the next CM face. He has a connection with Pakistan. It will be a threat to national security,” Amarinder Singh told news agency ANI.

In an interview to the news agency, Amarinder Singh stressed that Sidhu “is friends with (Pakistan Army chief) Qamar Javed Bajwa and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan”. 

“For the sake of my country, I'll oppose his (Navjot Singh Sidhu) name for CM of Punjab. It's a matter of national security. Pakistan PM Imran Khan is his friend. Sidhu has a relation with Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa,” he said.

#WATCH | For sake of my country, I'll oppose his (Navjot Singh Sidhu) name for CM of Punjab. It's a matter of national security. Pakistan PM Imran Khan is his friend. Sidhu has a relation with Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa: Amarinder Singh in an exclusive interview to ANI pic.twitter.com/imeuoyDxem

— ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2021

In a dramatic turn of events amid a rift in the Punjab Congress, Capt Amarinder Singh handed over his resignation to Governor Banwari Lal Purohit on Saturday. 

Expressing displeasure over how he had been summoned thrice by the central leadership in the past two months, the veteran Congress leader said: “I feel humiliated." 

In a tweet, Raveen Thukral, Amarinder's media advisor, said the latter resigned along with his council of ministers.

In his interview to ANI, Amarinder Singh also disclosed that interim party chief Sonia Gandhi apologised to him when he dialed her in the morning to reveal his decision to resign.

“'I am sorry Amarinder', Congress President Sonia Gandhi said after I spoke with her over my resignation, this morning”: the former Punjab CM revealed.

When asked about his future plans and whether he is in talks with the BJP, the veteran Congress leader said that he has not spoken with anyone.

Meanwhile, Harish Rawat, the AICC in-charge of Punjab, said two resolutions were passed in the Congress Legislative Party meeting on Saturday, and they have been sent to the party high command. “We're waiting for their (party high command) decision,” ANI quoted Rawat as saying.

Ajay Maken, the Congress observer for Punjab, told the media that there was no discussion on the name of Congress Legislative Party leader.