Chandigarh : Former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday announced that soon he will launch his own party. He also quoted that there is nothing wrong in joining hands with BJP if they take back three farm laws. Speking to media Amarinder said that Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi is a good man but he is against Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu.
On being questioned for aiding with BJP Amrinder said that can have seat adjusment if BJP resolves farmers issue. He quoted, “We can always have seat adjustment with the BJP if the farmers’ issue is resolved. We can also have a seat-sharing agreement with the breakaway Akali factions. I haven’t yet talked to Dhindsa (Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa), who is the leader of the Akali faction. There’s nothing wrong if two groups can work together to bring a stable government. I have met the Home Minister and the National Security Advisor in the last 10 days. I met the Home Minister over the issue of the farm laws and urged him to resolve it soon. During the meeting with the NSA, I told him that there is too much activity on the border.”
On Congress’s belief that BJP is communal force and their opponent Amarinder said, “In Punjab, there is no difference between Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, and Muslims. We are a very cohesive society. To say it (BJP) is a communal force in Punjab is wrong. Maybe in other parts of the country, it is looked at this way. Maybe, the Congress party thinks this way. But I don’t.”
When he was questioned that if he was offered any central role in the ruling BJP he reverted that no discussions are being held as of now. Only BJP General Secretary just announced that they would be happy to have me on their side. “I have not discussed the issue. The BJP general secretary just announced that they would be happy to have me on their side. I have twice been an MP and both times I resigned. My heart lies in Punjab. Whether they offer me defence, agriculture or any other ministry, I am going to be in Punjab only.”
On sacking of Amarinder he said, “I don’t know who was responsible. But those MLAs, who were called to Delhi, were asked to talk to Rahul Gandhi. First, he talked to them over the phone and then met them physically in Delhi. What was the purpose of this? All Sonia Gandhi should have done was to ask me to resign, which she eventually did, and I complied. Why should I reach out to anyone if I haven’t done any wrong? I have given my best for Punjab. Since I came in 2017, I won them 8 out of 13 seats and all the corporations and municipalities. Show me any other (Congress-ruled) state that has done this.”
When he was asked, “Is it fair to call Navjot Singh Sidhu anti-national just because he is your political rival?” He replied, “I had said that I don’t like Navjot Singh Sidhu even when he went to Pakistan for the swearing-in of their prime minister (Imran Khan). Before he was going there, I rang him up and asked why he was going. Ideally, he should tell me as I was his chief minister. Similarly, how I would ask the prime minister if I had to go there. He said he would think it over and the next day, he went to Pakistan and hugged Bajwa (Pakistan Army Chief).”
When he was asked that is Charanjit someone who can lead the Congress in future he said, “He is a good man. But I can’t say (on Channi leading Congress) as I am no longer in the party.”
Asking about his wife being Congress MP and he still haven’t resigned he said, “My mother was with the BJP when I was a Congress MP. I will resign in a few days. I have been in the party for over 50 years. Can’t I wait for 10 more days?”
On the rumors about Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi are the ones who pitched for Sidhu over Amarinder he said, “It’s not about Sidhu. It’s about a generational change. Despite the fact that you have productive years left ahead of you, you are sacked and all your 52 years of contribution is forgotten.”
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