Sidhu Withdraws Resignation, Assures Congress Of 80-100 Seats In Punjab Polls. But Conditions Apply

Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned as Punjab Congress unit chief earlier as he was upset over the bureaucratic setup and some of the picks in the Punjab Cabinet expansion. 

ANI Photo

New Delhi: Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday said that he has withdrawn his resignation as the president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) but put forth the condition for when he will take over the charge of his post. 

“I have taken back my resignation (as Punjab Congress chief) and I categorically state that the day new Advocate General will be appointed and a new panel will come, I will take charge of my office. It was not any personal ego but the interest of every Punjabi,” Sidhu said while addressing a press conference, as quoted by news agency ANI. 

Talking about the discussion held with Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi over the matter of DGP’s appointment, Navjot Singh Sidhu stated that things were supposed to be settled in one week but 50 days have passed since the assurance.

“I have been meeting him (CM) for a long time. I have been speaking to him for last one month. The first meeting was in Punjab Bhavan, at that time the thing was that a panel (on DGP) will come and things will be settled in one week. It’s a 90 days government, 50 days have gone,” the Punjab Congress President said, as per ANI.

Talking about his equation with the Chief Minister amid reports of there being tension between the two, Navjot Sidhu clarified: “There is nothing personal. I speak to him for the state. I speak to him for all the good that can be done for the state. I have no differences with Charanjit Channi, not at all. Whatever I do is for Punjab. I stand for Punjab. Punjab is my soul. That’s the goal”.

“During the last 4.5 years, I have raised many issues such as liquor, buses, etc. The CM had centralised power but didn't take any action. I don't have any greed for a post but I only fight for Punjab’s people’s rights. I’ll make Congress win 80-100 seats in 2022 polls,” he further added, as quoted by ANI.

Navjot Singh Sidhu’s Resignation

On September 28, Navjot Sidhu resigned as the president of the Punjab Unit of Congress. He was upset over the bureaucratic setup and some of the picks in the Punjab Cabinet expansion. 

In his four-and-a-half-minute video posted shortly after the resignation, Navjot Singh Sidhu referred to the 2015 sacrilege incidents in Faridkot and said that those who gave clean chits to the Badals six years ago were given the responsibility of delivering justice. 

DGP Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota had led a special investigation team formed in 2015 by the then Akali government to probe the case.

He also appeared to question the appointment of APS Deol as the new advocate general of Punjab. Deol was a counsel for former Punjab DGP Sumedh Singh Saini and represented him in cases related to police firing on Sikhs protesting against the sacrilege cases.

As an oblique reference to Rana Gurjit Singh’s return to the Punjab cabinet, Sidhu had rued that “tainted” leaders and officials were being brought back to the system.

Sidhu was appointed as the president of the Punjab Congress on July 23 this year amid months of the internal rift between him and then CM Captain Amarinder Singh.

In September, Amarinder Singh stepped down as the chief minister, following which Charanjit Channi was sworn in as his successor.

Meanwhile, Amarinder Singh recently tendered his resignation from the primary membership of Congress which has also been accepted by party interim chief Sonia Gandhi. The former chief minister has launched a new outfit ‘Punjab Lok Congress’.