Constantly referring to the ‘system’, Sidhu said that it is “manipulated, designed and controlled by two powerful families” in an apparent reference towards the Badal family of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)
As the rift between cricketer turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu and Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amrinder Singh continues to widen, the former said on Sunday he was ânot a showpieceâ which can be used to win elections and then âselfish vested interests can override the interests of Punjabâ.
17 Years- Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, MLA, Minister… Just one Motive, to change the system that runs Punjab & Give back the Power of the People to the People. But when the system said No to every attempt for reform, I rejected the system, though it kept offering me Cabinet Berths ! pic.twitter.com/V2LBAjoAXA
— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) June 21, 2021
Sidhu also clarified that he wasn’t running behind any particular post. In an interview to The Indian Express at his Patiala residence, the senior Congress leader who been critical of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder on several issues said that he was willing to become a Zila Parishad member in the state, let alone a Deputy CM or the PPCC president, and walk behind the Chief Minister if his (Sidhuâs) agenda for the development of Punjab was followed.
âI am not a showpiece that you will take me out campaigning, win the elections and then keep me back in the almirah. So that I can see how you do mining, how you do this, how you do that. And selfish vested interests overriding the interests of the state. This is unbearable for me,â said Sidhu.
Constantly referring to the ‘system’, Sidhu said that it is “manipulated, designed and controlled by two powerful families” in an apparent reference towards the Badal family of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)
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âThis system is controlled, manipulated and designed by two powerful families. They are the ones who control this system. They have belittled the legislature. The legislature is always accountable to the people. The people chose ministers and MLAs, they voted for them. They did not vote for an officer. But when you make the system accountable to an officer you have belittled the legislature. Why? To control. The power of the people does not return and is restricted to a few,â he said.
Navjot Sidhu’s tiff with Captain Amarinder Singh began right from the time Sidhu joined the Congress in 2017.
Reports say several attempts at a patch-up between Navjot Sidhu and Amarinder Singh have ended in failure. The ex-cricketer has often claimed that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is his âcaptainâ not Amarinder Singh, who carries far more weight in the Congress party than Sidhu.
He also accused the government of diverting from the real issues. The real issue is the income of the state, jobs, farmers, solutions, how to benefit people. Hinting he was facing some health issues, Sidhu said, âMy stay in Patiala is in a house that my father built exactly at his age and I donât want to trouble anyone with my personal problems.
Assembly elections are due in Punjab next year.
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