Navjot Sidhu Says Congress MLA Can Make Cops 'Wet Their Pants', DSP Slaps Defamation Notice

Besides facing flak for his remarks from former chief minister Amarinder Singh and Shiromani Akali Dal, a Chandigarh police officer sent Navjot Sidhu a defamation notice.

Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu (PTI File photo)

New Delhi: A controversy has erupted in Punjab after state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu praised two party members and alleged that they were capable of making policemen wet their pants.

Besides facing flak for his remarks from former chief minister Amarinder Singh and Shiromani Akali Dal, a Chandigarh police officer sent Sidhu a defamation notice.

Sad to see our men in uniform being disrespected. 1700 @PunjabPoliceInd personnel sacrificed their lives to bring the state out of the dark days and now they are being mocked by @INCPunjab leaders & above all their President. Shameful!

A leader must give respect to earn respect.

— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) December 27, 2021

"I have sent a defamation notice to him for humiliating the police," PTI quoted Chandigarh Deputy Superintendent of Police Dilsher Singh Chandel as saying.

At a rally in Sultanpur Lodhi, Sidhu pointed towards sitting MLA Navtej Singh Cheema and said he can "make a 'thanedar' (policeman) wet his pants". He repeated the remark at a rally in Batala on Sunday while praising local leader Ashwani Sekhri, adding fuel to the fire.

When reporters asked him about his remark, Sidhu said it was of saying the Congress "wields authority" and should not be taken literally.

A video clip of Sidhu making the remark went viral on social media. Amarinder Singh said it was sad that the men in uniform were being disrespected.

"Sad to see our men in uniform being disrespected. 1700 @PunjabPoliceInd personnel sacrificed their lives to bring the state out of the dark days and now they are being mocked by @INCPunjab leaders & above all their President. Shameful! A leader must give respect to earn respect," Amarinder Singh tweeted.

SAD's Daljit Singh Cheema questioned the "silence" of Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi over Sidhu's remark.

Chandigarh DSP Chandel dubbed Sidhu's remark as "shameful". "It is very shameful that such a senior leader uses these words for his own force and humiliates them. This is the same force which protects him (Sidhu) and his family," DSP Chandel said in a video message.

He even dared Sidhu to return his force deployed for his protection. "Without (security) force, even a rickshaw puller will not listen to him," he said.

"I strongly condemn this remark and he (Sidhu) should not use such words for his force. The force has its own dignity and respect and it is our responsibility to maintain this dignity," he said.

(With PTI inputs)