Tainted Officers Brought Back: Navjot Sidhu on Quitting as Punjab Congress Chief

Navjot Singh Sidhu quit as the chief of Punjab Congress on Tuesday, sending shockwaves across the party.

Navjot Singh Sidhu

(Photo: Video Screengrab)

A day after quitting as the chief of Punjab Congress, Navjot Singh Sidhu issued his first statement on Wednesday, 29 September, saying that he has had no personal enmity with anybody and that his opposition was to the fact that the ones who protected the vested interests of certain politicians were being appointed to protect Punjab.

Referring to the appointments of Amar Preet Singh Deol as Punjab's Advocate General and Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota, who has been given the additional charge of the director general of Punjab police, Sidhu said that the people who gave a clean chits to tainted politicians have been "rewarded."

"What happened to the principles that were being spoken about earlier," Sidhu asked.

Sidhu said that he joined politics for the betterment of the state.

"I have had no personal enmity with anybody till date, neither am I here to pick personal fights. My fight is for the issues of Punjab and I will stand firmly to fight for those issues," he said.

Sidhu said that the very system that was being challenged earlier was being brought back in place.

'Fighting For the Truth'

Emphasising that he has never compromised on his principles when it comes to the welfare of the state, Sidhu further said that he will fight for the truth till his last breath.

Sidhu said that he has no intention to go against the party high command.

Sidhu's statement comes after his resignation as the chief of the party's state unit jolted the Congress on Monday, stretching the crisis that has been continuing in the state ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections.

Dramatic Resignation

Responding to questions on Sidhu being upset over the 'bureaucratic set up' and concerns over his commands not being followed after the Cabinet expansion in Punjab, CM Charanjit Singh Channi on Tuesday said: "It will be settled if he is upset...though he is not upset with me..."

Sidhu on Tuesday announced his decision to resign in a letter to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

In his letter, Sidhu wrote: “The collapse of a man’s character stems from the compromise corner, I can never compromise to Punjab’s future and the agenda for the welfare of Punjab. (sic)”

Following Sidhu's resignation, Cabinet minister Razia Sultana, General Secretary of Punjab Congress Yoginder Dhingra, General Secretary of Punjab Congress (in-charge training) Gautam Seth and Punjab Congress treasurer Gulzar Inder Chahal also stepped down.