Out of jail, Navjot Singh Sidhu raps Modi, Bhagwant Mann - Hindustan Times
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Out of jail, Navjot Singh Sidhu raps Modi, Bhagwant Mann

Apr 02, 2023 01:22 AM IST

Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday evening walked free after spending nearly 10 months in Patiala Central Jail in a 1988 road rage case and targeted the Centre and Punjab government, alleging that democracy is in chains and institutions have turned slaves in the country

Patiala : Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday evening walked free after spending nearly 10 months in Patiala Central Jail in a 1988 road rage case and targeted the Centre and Punjab government, alleging that democracy is in chains and institutions have turned slaves in the country.

Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday evening walked free after spending nearly 10 months in Patiala Central Jail in a 1988 road rage case and targeted the Centre and Punjab government, alleging that democracy is in chains and institutions have turned slaves in the country.
Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday evening walked free after spending nearly 10 months in Patiala Central Jail in a 1988 road rage case and targeted the Centre and Punjab government, alleging that democracy is in chains and institutions have turned slaves in the country.

Sidhu had been in jail since May 20 last year after the Supreme Court convicted him the road rage case, sentencing him to one year in jail. The Congress leader got a 45-day remission for his conduct in the jail. His scheduled release from jail was on May 16.

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“Whenever dictatorship came in the country, a revolution came and today, I say the revolution’s name is Rahul Gandhi,” the former Punjab Congress chief told reporters after walking out of the jail. He said the Congress is fighting against oppression.

“Today democracy is in chains, there is nothing like democracy today,” he alleged. “Institutions have turned slaves and these have been made rubber ‘ke gudde’ (dolls).”

He also claimed that a conspiracy is being hatched to impose the President’s Rule in Punjab.

“... They are trying to weaken Punjab. I stand like a wall with Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi (Vadra) and every Congress worker,” Sidhu said, in an apparent dig at the Centre and the state government over the law-and-order issue in the backdrop of Amritpal Singh controversy.

Targeting the central and state governments on law and order in the border state, the former cricketer said: “There is a conspiracy to impose President’s rule in Punjab. They are trying to weaken Punjab.” Sidhu’s statement came in the backdrop of fugitive pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh’s controversy.

Sidhu, who was expected to be released from thew the jail by noon, walked out only in the evening.

Attacking the state government over delay in his release, Sidhu said the Bhagwant Mann government was waiting for the media and Congress workers to return. “But they stood like a rock and waited for me,” he said.

“I want to ask my younger brother (Punjab CM) Bhagwant Mann. Why did you fool the people of Punjab? You made tall promises, cracked jokes. But you are just CM on paper today,” alleged the cricketer-turned-politician.

On law and order, Sidhu attacked Mann said that earlier you got one Sidhu killed (referring to Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala) and have not issue if one more Sidhu will die.

He said the AAP government has offered free electricity by taking 25,000 crore debt and it has surrendered before the central government. He also questioned AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal over promises of generating 20,000 crore revenue from sand and gravel.

Sidhu got a rousing welcome after his release from the jail. While no senior Congress leader was there to receive him, party leaders Lal Singh, former MLA Navtej Singh Cheema, Ashwani Sekhri, Sukhwinder Singh Danny, former MP Shamsher Singh Dullo, Surjit Singh Dhiman and others remained present.

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No senior Cong leader in welcome party

HT Correspondent

Letterschd@hindustantimes.com

Patiala

A sharp divide was visible in the state unit of the Congress when party leader Navjot Singh Sidhu walked out of the Patiala Central Jail on Saturday evening.

None of the senior party leaders were there to welcome the former cricketer. Former CM Charanjit Singh Channi, PPCC president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, former deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, former minister Pargat Singh among others gave the welcome party a miss.

Warring, along with the former MLA Kublir Singh Zira and entire Majha Congress leaders were siding with Sidhu when Captain Amarinder Singh was ousted as the CM in 2021.

Sidhu didn’t meet Warring and Randhawa when they visited him in the jail.

Those who gave rousing welcome to Sidhu included Congress leader Lal Singh, former MLA, Navtej Singh Cheema, Ashwani Sekhri, Sukhwinder Singh Danny, former MP Shamsher Singh Dullo and Surjit Singh Dhiman.

Taking dig at Warring, former MLA and Sidhu loyalist Surjit Singh Dhiman said: “Sidhu is national-level leader and no state leader can match his persona.”

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  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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    Vishal Rambani is an assistant editor covering Punjab. A journalist with over a decade of experience, he writes on politics, crime, power sector, environment and socio-economic issues. He has several investigative stories to his credit.

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