No tears shed on his exit, ex-minister had it coming

Sunday, 21/07/2019

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CHANDIGARH: “Impatient and politically naïve” is how Navjot Singh Sidhu is described by many in the ruling Congress and the opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Aam aadmi party (AAP).

Sidhu, whose ministerial innings came to an abrupt end on Saturday when chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh accepted his resignation, stands isolated with no one coming in his support. Only a couple of days back, senior cabinet minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa termed Sidhu “misfit in politics for being impulsive, having high aspirations and in a tearing hurry to climb the political ladder”.

“In politics, one should learn to respect his leader. Punjab has lost a good leader because of his impatient nature,” said Bajwa after the CM accepted the cricketer-turned-politician’s resignation.

Another senior minister Brahm Mohindra, who replaced Sidhu as the local bodies minister in the June 6 cabinet reshuffle, said the episode should not have happened as it has put the government, Congress and Sidhu himself in the bad light.

Congress MLA Pargat Singh, one of the few friends of Sidhu in the politics, also feels that he (Sidhu) doesn’t listen to anyone. “This kind of behaviour is unacceptable in politics. I tried my best to make Sidhu understand that he needs to change his ways, but he was not ready to listen,” said Pargat, showing a sense of disenchantment with Sidhu.

“He has not done any good, so why should anyone feel bad that he’s no longer in the cabinet. Also, he has been pointing fingers at his fellow MLAs and partymen,” said a Congress MLA.

An outspoken politician, Sidhu started targeting the CM soon after the Congress government took charge in the state in March 2017. Though the CM gave him a long rope, things reached a point of no return before the Lok Sabha polls when Sidhu’s wife Navjot Kaur accused Amarinder of blocking her Lok Sabha ticket from Chandigarh. Later, the CM blamed Sidhu for not handling his department well, which he claimed had resulted in the Congress’ “poor performance” in urban areas in the polls.

Sidhu opened a front against Amarinder saying “loss or profit was a collective responsibility” and “he cannot be taken for granted”.

Despite his closeness to Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, Sidhu failed to get back the plum portfolio. The CM put his foot down and said if Sidhu doesn’t want to do the job, there is nothing he can do about it. “How can a soldier refuse a job assigned by the General,” said Amarinder after getting Sidhu’s resignation on Monday. “There has to be some discipline in the government if it is to function effectively,” he said.

“What could have Priyanka done when he (Sidhu) offers resignations at the drop of a hat. Power department was not a bad option. He could have joined and started a new innings,” said in-charge of Congress affairs in Punjab Asha Kumari, adding: “Sidhu is a good fellow, but has many bad points. He doesn’t listen to his senior party colleagues and is not steadfast. One can’t be a leader overnight. It’s a lifetime slog and Captain is an example.”