New Delhi: Congress leader Alka Lamba, says that former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was forced to target Congress Leader Navjot Singh Sidhu. She says that Captain was ‘speaking BJP’s language.’
Reacting to the remarks made by Amarinder Singh referring to Imran Khan requesting through “a known person” to take Sidhu into the cabinet after his “removal”, Lamba said Amarinder Singh was holding the press conference in BJP headquarters and was only the “face” but the words “belong to his ally party”.
Punjab Lok Congress (Amarinder’s Party) is an ally of Bhartiya Janta Party, for the upcoming Punjab Assembly Elections.
“He (Captain) addressed the press conference in Delhi at BJP headquarters. So, you should understand that he was only the face, but the words belong to BJP because he has formed an alliance with it for the upcoming assembly elections in Punjab,” Lamba told ANI.
She alleged that these remarks made by Sing were ‘out of pressure.’ He was “forced to make the remarks”.
Amarinder Singh had said on Monday that he got a request from Pakistan Prime Minister for “inducting” Navjot Singh Sidhu into his cabinet after he was removed due to “incompetence”.
Amarinder Singh, who floated Punjab Lok Congress after resigning as Chief Minister in September last year, said the Pakistan Prime Minister in his request conveyed through a person “known to them” termed Sidhu as an “old friend” and said he could be removed later if he does not work.
Though Amarinder Singh did not name the Pakistan Prime Minister, his apparent reference is to Imran Khan, whose swearing-in function Sidhu attended. Amarinder Singh had asked Sidhu, who is now Punjab Congress chief, to reconsider his decision to attend the function.
“Pakistan PM sent a request if you can take Sidhu into your cabinet I will be grateful, he is an old friend of mine. You can remove him if does not work,” Amarinder Singh said at a press conference.
Amarinder Singh’s Punjab Lok Congress is fighting the Punjab polls, to be held on February 20, in alliance with the BJP.
Amarinder Singh stated the reason to remove Sidhu from Cabinet was that “he was incompetent, incapable and totally useless”.
“I think two-three weeks later I get a message from somebody we know, he knows and I know…that there is a request to take Sidhu (in cabinet) if possible. If he does not work, remove him,” Amarinder Singh said.
Sidhu hugging Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa during his Pakistan visit led to a huge controversy and Amarinder Singh criticized him. Sidhu was later divested of Local Bodies Department and resigned as minister in Amarinder Singh government in June 2019.
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