Chandigarh: Praising two Congress leaders, Punjab Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu ended up creating a controversy. Praising them Sidhu said that the party leaders were so powerful that they could leave thanedaars (station house officers) in “wet pants”.
On December 18, Sidhu made this comment referring to Punjab MLA Navtej Cheema at a public rally in Sultanpur Lodhi. Cheema is miffed with cabinet minister Rana Gurjeet Singh who happens to be a Sidhu critic. Sidhu is endorsing his candidature from Sultanpur Lodhi.
Sidhu repeated “wet pant” remark on December 26 at another rally, this time in Batala where he supported Congress leader Ashwani Sekhri. Sekhri is rival of Batala MLA and Punjab minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa.
Such remarks of Sidhu caused displeasure among the cops in Chandigarh and Punjab.
On his remarks, Punjab Police inspector Balbir Singh, posted in Jalanhar (rural) criticised him for demoralising the police force. “This is very bad that statements like this are being given against police that too, by a person who holds a high position. I condemn this statement,” Balbir Singh said.
He appealed to the director general of Punjab Police “not to let the image of Punjab Police spoil like this”. He said even their children also objecting to this type of language.
“There are female cops in the force as well. We are not timid but brave. The whole country knows the stories of our bravery. It is true that Punjab Police is passing through a difficult phase. You should encourage them and not to indulge in bringing their morale down,” Balbir Singh said.
Earlier, Chandigarh Police DSP Dilsher Singh Chandel slammed Sidhu for his controversial remarks. He said, ” It is very shameful that a leader is using such language to humiliate the police force.”
“This is the force which takes care of these leaders and their families. If things are like this, then he [Navjot Sidhu] should surrender the force back to the police department.”
The DSP said that Sidhu should answer why politicians keep 15 to 20 cops when they move out.
Sidhu’s remarks spark political slugfest
Navjot Sidhu’s remarks have evoked sharp responses from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders. They slammed Navjot Sidhu for using “humiliating language” against the cops.
Ludhiana Lok Sabha MP and Congress leader Ravneet Singh Bittu apologised to the cops on behalf of the Congress party and praised the police force. Bittu advised Sidhu not to demoralise the police force.
The SAD questioned the silence of Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Channi and Home Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Sidhu’s statements.
Senior Akali Dal leader Daljit Cheema sought clarification from Randhawa and Channi.
Sidhu is unapologetic
Navjot Sidhu, however, remained unapologetic. He refused to apologise and defended his remarks saying his statements were twisted.
“My statements are fictionalwere twisted. What I meant was that the men [Congress leaders] are powerful and others are afraid of them,” Sidhu said in Batala.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
