Congressman Navjot Singh Sidhu slams Badals, refuses to speak on Narendra Modi

In a warning of sorts, Sidhu, while joining the Congress, said, "Bhaag Badal baba Bhaag (Run Badal baba Run)."

Updated: January 16, 2017 2:54 PM IST

By Aadil Ikram Zaki Iqbal

Congressman Navjot Singh Sidhu slams Badals, refuses to speak on Narendra Modi

New Delhi, Jan 16: Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday called himself a born Congressman as he formally joined the grand old party. Addressing a press conference a day after joining Congress, Navjot Singh Sidhu said he is a born Congressman. “I am a born Congressman, have come back to my roots,” said Navjot Singh Sidhu. The cricketer-turned-politician described his arrival in Congress as ‘ghar wapsi’.

While Navjot Singh Sidhu launched a scathing attack on the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), he took a soft stand on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Navjot Singh Sidhu accused SAD of nepotism. The former BJP MP, however, refused to comment on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “BJP chose alliance, I chose Punjab,” said Sidhu.

Navjot Singh Sidhu said that he and his family has been connected to Congress. “My father served for Congress for 40 years,” said Navjot Singh Sidhu. In a veiled attack on the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Sidhu said people will throw away the Badals from power. “Bhaag baaba Badal bhaag, kursi khaali kar, Punjab ki janta aati hai (run, Baba Badal, run, leave the chair, the people of Punjab are coming),” said Sidhu.

Launching an attack on Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal, Navjot Singh Sidhu said Akali Dal was a pious movement but has now reduced to a dynasty. The former Rajya Sabha MP vowed to expose Sukhbir Singh Badal, alleging he has sold Punjab. Reacting on his past relationship with the BJP, Sidhu said that the saffron party preferred alliance over him.

Speaking on his role in the Congress party, Navjot Singh Sidhu said that he has no issues working under any leader. “I am ready to work under anybody,” said Sidhu. When asked about the seat from which he wants to contest, Sidhu said, “I will contest from anywhere the Congress wants me to fight.” Sidhu is expected to contest the February 4 Punjab assembly election from Amritsar East, part of the Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency which he represented for the BJP from 2004 to 2014.

Navjot Singh Sidhu joined the Congress on Sunday after meeting party vice president Rahul Gandhi. Sidhu, who never enjoyed warm relations with the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Punjab, quit the BJP saying he was feeling stifled. After quitting the BJP and failing to join the AAP apparently over his role in the party, Sidhu formed the Awaaz-e-Punjab along with the popular Bains brothers. The brothers, however, allied with the AAP.

The Punjab Assembly election will be a three-way affair involving the ruling Akali Dal-BJP coalition, the main opposition Congress party and the AAP, a new entrant.

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