Sidhu's Fresh Dig At CM Channi? Punjab Congress Chief Slams Politicians Offering ‘Lollipops’ Ahead Of Polls

“They offer lollipops...this is free, that is free, which happened in the last two months,” Sidhu said.

Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu (File Photo)

New Delhi: Apparently hitting out at his own party-led government in the state, Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday lashed out at the politicians, who offer “lollipops” just ahead of the polls, and urged the people to vote only on the welfare agenda.

“They offer lollipops...this is free, that is free, which happened in the last two months,” Sidhu said.

READ: Power Tariff In Punjab Slashed By Rs 3 Per Unit For Domestic Consumers, Announces CM Channi

Addressing a gathering of the Hindu Mahasabha in Chandigarh, Sidhu asked the people to question those politicians as to how would they fulfil such promises.

He asked the people of Punjab to cast their votes on the agenda of development and not for “lollipops”.

“There should be a question in your mind whether the intention is only government formation or coming to power after speaking lies, making 500 promises or the welfare of the state,” Sidhu said, PTI reported.

Asserting that politics has become a profession, Sidhu said it is no longer a mission.

“It is my objective to bring back people's trust, which has faded away from a politician,” he said.

Asserting that he would die but never sell Punjab’s interests, Sidhu highlighted that Punjab had an outstanding debt of Rs five lakh crore and blamed the previous governments ruling the state over the last 25-30 years for this.

Stating the municipal committees and government rest houses were mortgaged, the cricketer-turned-politician said this debt is to be paid by the people of Punjab.

“Wherever there is talk of compromise, Sidhu throws away the post so that your trust is not broken. For me, it is a 'dharm yudh' (battle of principles) and I cannot be defeated in this 'dharm yudh', I know this,” he said.

Lambasting those stating Punjab’s coffers are filled, Sidhu said: “If that is the situation, then give Rs 50,000 as salary to the ETT (Elementary Teacher Training) teachers and give it (the money) to the contractual teachers.”

The remarks of the cricketer-turned-politician came on a day when Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi announced slashing of the power tariff by Rs 3 per unit for the domestic sector and increasing the dearness allowance for the government employees.