Not in contact with Sidhu: Cong
Thursday, 06/10/2016
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/politics/not-in-contact-with-sidhu-cong/305539.html
New Delhi : The Congress today denied establishing any kind of contact with cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu and said no leader of the party was in touch with him.
Speaking to The Tribune, Congress incharge for Punjab Asha Kumari said: “No one from the Congress is in touch with Sidhu. We have said from the very beginning that anyone who believes in the ideology of the Congress is welcome to join us and that has to be unconditional.”
Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh separately told TNS that there was no plan yet for Sidhu joining the Congress and no one had met him even once. “There is no such thing,” he said.
Asked if it was possible for Sidhu to be in touch with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi without the knowledge of state leaders, Asha Kumari said: “Rahul is not even in Delhi. He has been away to Uttar Pradesh since September 6 for his ‘kisan yatra’. How can he meet anyone if he is not even here?”
To another query about former HJC chief Kuldeep Bishnoi joining the Congress without the knowledge of Haryana unit chief Ashok Tanwar and state bigwigs like former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Asha Kumari said: “Bishoi is originally a Congress man. He was returning to the party and the party had been in touch with him for long. Sidhu was never with the Congress.”
The merger of Bishnoi-led HJC with the Congress happened at the highest level after Bishnoi held meetings with Rahul. Sidhu had earlier said he could work with the Congress but not with Amarinder, but Asha Kumari today categorically said Amarinder’s leadership in Punjab was non-negotiable and he was the face of party’s election campaign.
The Congress is, meanwhile, open to allying with Sidhu for the state elections provided a common programme can be reached.
Amarinder had, last week, told The Tribune that he was open to seat-sharing with Sidhu, Pargat Singh and Bains brothers, if the other side brought a proposal.
Amarinder arrived in Delhi yesterday to attend a public rally that Rahul will address tomorrow at Jantar Mantar, marking the end of Congress’ month-long “kisan yatra” in UP. Leaders of all neighbouring states of Delhi will be present.
