Dr Sidhu to undertake fast-unto-death today

Saturday, 15/08/2015

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AMRITSAR: Even after Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal assured that all issues raised by her would be resolved, chief parliamentary secretary (CPS) and BJP MLA Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu on Friday announced that she would be holding a “fast unto death” against the state government from Saturday.

A hoarding by BJP MLA and chief parliamentary secretary Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu near Hall Gate in Amritsar on Friday.

Dr Sidhu, who had recently met the chief minister at a sangat darshan programme, has been demanding `10 crore for her Amritsar (East) constituency for over a year.

“After I raised my voice and met the chief minister at the sangat darshan, tenders worth `5 crore were floated for development works by the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT), however there is no sign of tenders worth another `5 crore promised by the chief minister,” she claimed.

The BJP leader claimed that she had taken the decision in favour of her party and constituency.

She has also got special hoardings placed all around the city, which read: “Happy Independence Day — independence from corruption at any level in all departments, relationshipbased promotions, advantages, flattery injustice in all departments, including political, police, administration, medical.”

Dr Sidhu has been a critic of the SAD-BJP alliance and has also announced that she won’t contest the 2017 assembly polls if this alliance stays. “I respect everyone and my dharna is not against anyone in particular. I have respect for all, but no trust. I have raised issues pertaining to my constituency on many occasions, but the government hardly bothered. I am left with no option.”

She announced that she would stage her dharna at the busy Bhandari Bridge around 10am and also go on a hunger strike.

The CPS has warned the government that if tenders worth `10 crore are not floated she will launch a protest against the government on August 15.

She had even met the chief minister at his residence a few days back, and claimed that the CM had assured her of all helps.

Alleging that the state government was ignoring the development of Amritsar, even former MP Navjot Singh Sidhu had announced to sit on a dharna. But he withdrew on the last minute after the state government promised that his projects would be completed. However, till now most of those projects in limbo.