Sidhu dares Badals to debate on ‘unholy’ alliance with INLD

Saturday, 11/10/2014

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RATTEWALI (PANCHKULA): Former BJP parliamentarian Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday dared Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son, deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, to have an open debate with him on the Shiromani Akali Dal’s (SAD’s) ‘unholy’ alliance with the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in Haryana.

Addressing a gathering in favour of BJP candidate from Panchkula Gian Chand Gupta in this dusty village near Barwala, Sidhu mocked CM Badal for seeking votes for a person (INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala) who had been convicted and sentenced by a court of law.

The former cricketer said: “Look at the irony. A former chief minister (Chautala) is dreaming of becoming the Haryana CM while sitting in jail. And a CM (Badal) is supporting him. Just look at our (BJP’s) alliance partner in Punjab. Bhaire bhaire yaar meri fatto de…”

“Mukh mantri hon de bawjood jholi add ke vota mang de aa,” said Sidhu, targeting the SAD leadership yet again.

When Sidhu, attired in a light-blue Pathani suit, saw that the crowd was applauding and cheering his diatribe against the Badals and the Chautalas, he upped the ante.

“I again challenge the Punjab chief minister and his son to a debate about the moral grounds on which they are seeking votes for Chautala. I can have a debate anywhere, anytime. I will answer every question,” he added.

“Par main putlian nu jawab nahin dinda (But I will not reply to the puppets who have been prompted by them to make statements against me). Let the whole Punjab witness the debate and judge who stands by honesty and integrity,” he declared.

“They should tell the people of Punjab what kind of an alliance they have with the BJP in Punjab. They have used against us the very power which was bestowed upon them with our support. This is absolutely unjust. They should talk to me with a straight face. If I blink even once, I will quit politics,” said Sidhu, who seemed in no mood to relent.

“Lok tantar nu danda tantar na banao (don’t reduce democracy to baton rule). They have struck at the roots of those people who supported them. It is very important to punish and teach them a lesson,” said Sidhu, who reached the venue late by more than three hours.

He stated that since 1960, the Congress had never let the government of “our alliance partner” (SAD) function in Punjab. It was only during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure that the Akalis began to have a stable government with BJP support, he claimed.

“Even in 2012, they (Akalis) could not have formed the government without the BJP’s support. They got their ministers appointed at the Centre only with the BJP’s help. They got favours from the BJP on every front,” he said.