The suspense is over. Navjot Singh Sidhu has formally announced a new political front in Punjab, with an eye on Punjab polls, scheduled next year..
The front, Aawaaz-e-Punjab, launched on September 9, declared a big red poster shared on Facebook by the cricketer turned politician’s wife, Navjot Kaur Sidhu, who is a BJP lawmaker in the Punjab Assembly.
Mr Sidhu had walked out of the BJP in July and was in talks to join Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party for weeks. Those reportedly floundered over Mr Sidhu’s demand that he be projected as the party’s candidate for chief minister.
“Good people have been removed from system and they watched from sidelines silently. This is also a crime to remain silent,” said Sidhu.
Expecting a bright show of hi party, Sidhu said, “This time Punjab will win. This is our slogan. Today Punjab is a beggar. Debt of Rs lakh crore on the state. If Punjab has to win that a person needed who will work selflessly and not just be a decoration piece. We need to shake the system.”
He said that political leader needed to set an example. “Men of genius are admired, men of power are feared, men of character are trusted. We fall in 3rd category,” said the former Rajya Sabha MP.
Sidhu clarified that his resignation from Rajya Sabha had nothing to do with Kejriwal. “I quit Rajya Sabha because I was told to campaign for Badals. I refused. It was a conscientious decision to quit Rajya Sabha. My resignation from Rajya Sabha had nothing to do with Kejriwal ji,” said Sidhu.
“Kejriwal ji tweeted about meeting with me, but he said half truth. Let me complete it. Kejriwal asked me not to fight Punjab elections. You campaign. Make your wife fight. They (AAP) are Bholi surat dil ke khote, naam bade aur darshan chhote,’ said Sidhu.
He also claimed that Akalis and Congress were “two sides of the same coin” who fought a “friendly-match” and ruined Punjab, which needed a change for its better future.