Amarinder Singh Responds To Harish Rawat's Rebuttal Amid Report Of Him Floating 'Punjab Vikas Party'

As per reports, Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh is likely to announce the formation of ‘Punjab Vikas Party’ following his exit from Congress.

Harish Rawat & Amarinder Singh (File Photo)

New Delhi: Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has responded to Harish Rawat’s statement wherein he refuted the former’s claims on being “humiliated” by the Congress party.

Speaking to the media earlier today, Harish Rawat contended that Congress has always treated Amarinder Singh with respect citing how Singh served as the Punjab Congress President thrice and was the state’s Chief Minister for 9.5 years.

“Amarinder Singh should compare himself with other veteran leaders who have not been given these many opportunities,” the Punjab affairs in-charge stated.

In response to this, Captain Amarinder Singh has said: “The world saw the humiliation and the insult heaped on me, and yet (Harish) Rawat is making claims to the contrary. If this was not humiliation then what was it?”, news agency ANI reported.

“If the party didn't intend to humiliate me then why was Navjot Singh Sidhu allowed to openly criticise and attack me on social media and other public platforms for months? Why did the party give the rebels, led by Sidhu, a free hand in undermining my authority?” the former Punjab CM added, questioning the party.

The remarks come after Amarinder Singh had on Thursday clarified that he will not join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but will exit Congress. “I will be leaving the Congress party. I am not remaining in Congress, I am not joining the BJP,” he said, as quoted by ANI. 

He also declared that he will not let Navjot Singh Sidhu win if he contests in the upcoming Punjab assembly election: “I had said it before also that Navjot Singh Sidhu is not the right man for Punjab, and if he contests, I will not let him win…”.

Amarinder Singh To Form ‘Punjab Vikas Party’: Report

As per reports, Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh is likely to announce a new party following his exit from the Congress. 

The name of his new party will be ‘Punjab Vikas Party’, news agency IANS reported sources as saying.

According to the agency’s sources, Amarinder Singh will convene a meeting of leaders close to him in a few days to consider the formation of his new party and it will include all the leaders of the anti-Sidhu faction.

As Amarinder Singh looks to ensure Navjot Singh Sidhu’s defeat in the upcoming Punjab assembly election, a strong contender will be fielded against the former Punjab Congress chief from his newly-formed party, the report stated.

He will also contact all the farmers' leaders of Punjab and will get in touch with small parties, IANS sources said.

Speaking to media persons on Thursday, Amarinder Singh said: “I have been in politics for 52 years, but they treated me like this. At 10.30 Congress President Sonia Gandhi asked me to resign. I did not ask any questions. At 4 o'clock I went to the Governor and submitted my resignation. If you still doubt me after 50 years... My credibility is at stake and there is no trust, then there is no point in being in the party”.

This is not the first time that Amarinder Singh has announced to quit Congress.

In 1980, he won the Lok Sabha elections on the Congress ticket, but he left the party to join the Akali Dal in protest against Operation Blue Star in 1984. 

In 1992, he broke away from the Akali Dal as well and formed a splinter group named Shiromani Akali Dal (Panthic).

After its crushing defeat in the 1998 assembly election in which he himself was defeated from Patiala Constituency, Amarinder Singh merged the outfit with Congress as he rejoined the party.

(With Inputs From Agencies)