Day on, Navjot Sidhu back on crease
GS Paul
Amritsar, February 7
Day after losing out to Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on being the chief ministerial face, Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu today canvassed in his Amritsar East constituency, where he said his “Punjab model” would be implemented by the CM.
Not after post
The main focus is to transform Punjab. It is not necessary to have a post. It was high command’s prerogative to take a call. What has been decided is acceptable. — Navjot Singh Sidhu, PCC Chief
While going door to door in the constituency, from where the PCC chief is seeking a re-election, Sidhu said he had never run after “nakad Narayan” (money) or “ahuda Narayan” (plum position), but committed for “jagat Narayan” (service to masses).
“The main focus is to transform Punjab. It is not necessary to have a ‘post’ for this purpose. It was the prerogative of the high command (Congress) to take a call on it (decision on CM face). What has been decided is acceptable. I have been with the high command from day one, yet I am concerned more for the welfare of Punjab. My fight for ‘haq ate sach di ladai’ (fight for truth and rights) over policies and accountability to bring change to the lives of the people will continue,” he said.
He said he had handed over the “Punjab model” to his party and the leadership was free to adopt it. He said he had no “copyright” over the model as it belonged to the entire state, adding he would make it public shortly and post it on his Facebook page too.
“Anyone can take up good points from it, I’ve no objection. I’ve already handed it over to the party. Now Channi sahib has the power to implement it,” he said. Asked about Opposition’s remarks over the party’s choice of CM face, keeping in view the alleged involvement of Channi’s nephew in sand mining, Sidhu quipped: “Kuch to log kahenge, logon ka kaam hai kehna.”
Launching an attack on the SAD, he said: “Our fight is only with the AAP, not the SAD, which had pledged the state for vested interests. We aim to target the ‘jhota’ (referring to the Badals), not the ‘chichar’ (worms),” he said.
LEADERSPEAK
Congress encouraging corruption
The Congress high command and Rahul Gandhi have put their stamp of approval on the corrupt activities of Charanjit Singh Channi by declaring him as the party’s chief ministerial face in the elections. — Harsimrat Kaur Badal, SAD leader
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