Amarinder Singh-Navjot Singh Sidhu tussle: Congressmen stand divided

CHANDIGARH: Even as Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh has openly hit out at his former cabinet colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu, other Congress functionaries continue to speak in different voices, waiting to see how the episode unfolds in the days to come.
Congress Qadian MLA Fateh Jung Bajwa said, “Navjot Sidhu holds a key role in the party and the party (leadership) should put up a united face.Both Capt Saab and Sidhu should not make such statements in the press as the party will have to pay a price for it. The need of the hour is to understand people’s pulse and try to find a solution. My feeling is that Sidhu will continue to be in the party.”
On the other hand, Congress Amritsar West MLA Raj Kumar Verka, added, “Navjot Sidhu is a Congress MLA. It will be his individual decision whether he wants to continue in the party. Misunderstandings and mistrust could be the reason behind the situation that has emerged. The common sentiment of the MLAs is that we all should work for the party.”
Meanwhile, hitting out at Sidhu, cabinet minister Sunder Sham Arora said the repeated statements by the former minister against the party leadership were a sign of “indiscipline and irresponsible behaviour”. He added, “Congress gained strength in Punjab under the able leadership of Capt Amarinder Singh. Questioning the chief minister’s leadership time and again by Sidhu amounted to challenging the party leadership.” The unfounded accusations by Sidhu were weakening the party, he said.
“The CM gave him a significant portfolio despite that he could not fulfil the aspirations of the people,” said Arora, adding that discipline was important and something that could never be compromised.
Congress MLA from Sultanpur Lodhi Navtej Cheema said, “If Sidhu has an issue, he should discuss it with the CM or the party high command. By making the public statements, he is only damaging the party.” The fact that the party’s central leadership has not clarified its stand on the way Sidhu had been targeting Capt Amarinder has left many party leaders perplexed. Secondly, Sidhu’s frontal attack at the CM came at a time when a section of MLAs too feel that the party is on the backfoot on the sacrilege issue.
“The CM looks for support in wake of quashing of the sacrilege probe report in the Kotkapura firing case. But where most MLAs vented their ire over the alleged delay in justice, only two ministers – Sadhu Singh Dharamsot and Sunder Sham Arora – supported CM openly against Sidhu. ,” said a party leader.