‘Punjab BJP must stay united, fight for its rights’
Thursday, 16/10/2014
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AMRITSAR: As former Amritsar MP and BJP leader Navjot Singh Sidhu has once again taken the battle to the Badal camp; the cricketerturned-politician has given a clear message to the Punjab BJP leadership that they must stay united and fight for their rights.
Sidhu’s outburst against the alliance partner, SAD, during the election campaign in Haryana has made the cracks between the BJP and the Akali Dal in Punjab apparent.
Unlike in the past, this time, Sidhu saw support coming in from state BJP chief Kamal Sharma and national secretary Tarun Chugh who backed the cricketer after the Punjab government withdrew his security.
The way the BJP leadership gave a special chopper to Sidhu and asked him to campaign aggressively in Haryana seems to have not only put an end to his political exile but also strengthened his position in the party.
As the SidhuBadals tiff once again makes headlines, Hindustan Times spoke to the former MP on a host of issues. Here are the excerpts:
Your party deserted you in Punjab; now they are backing you.
I never spoke against anyone (BJP leaders) and I don’t have any differences with them. I raised voice against the alliance partner Akali Dal, especially the Badals, only when it was required. Today, if the BJP leaders in Punjab have backed me, I feel good about it. My urgent message to the BJP leaders in Punjab is to start fighting for your rights. United we stand, divided we fall. The BJP has always played a vital role in the formation of government in Punjab. We cannot always be at the receiving end. Time has come that the BJP leaders must stay united and follow the path of Modi saab. Let’s stand for Punjab.
In light of your repeated attacks on the Badals, do you justify the SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab?
As far as the alliance is concerned, it is for the party high command to decide. But I would definitely say that strong cracks have emerged in the alliance. How long will the BJP tolerate being dictated terms? In the municipal corporation polls, Akali candidates were placed in front of our men in Amritsar. Now in Haryana, the SAD is openly supporting the INLD that opposes the BJP. Is this the alliance? This is backstabbing. I am not against the Akali Dal; I am against people who think it is their “jaagir”.
What is your tussle with the Badals?
I have no personal issues with anyone. If I speak the truth and raise issues that they do not like, I am not to blame. Being the Amritsar MP I was cornered by the state government. I was repeatedly ignored for important functions. Today, when they are supporting the INLD that opposes the BJP, and I am questioning them, what wrong am I doing? I always supported them, but I think a few people in the Akali Dal feel insecure because of me.
Written off by many after being denied the ticket, has Navjot Sidhu bounced back?
I am just doing what I feel is right. Throughout my career, I have risen every time when someone tried to pull me down – be it cricket, TV or politics – as God has been with me. I won’t say I have bounced back or not, but that I have been blessed again.
The Akali Dal has accused you of backstabbing your mentor Arun Jaitley by not campaigning for him.
This has nothing to do with the issues I raised during the Haryana campaign. I would like to talk to the chief minister on this and have already challenged him for a debate. It was Akali leaders who went to Jaitley sir and assured him of a winning certificate. The Shiromani Akali Dal misguided him.
A section in the Punjab BJP says you may become the state party chief. But you are too busy with TV commitments.
I am a soldier of the party and will abide by whatever responsibility it gives me. As far as TV is concerned, I never went there for almost nine years. I would just say that I can sacrifice anything to serve my motherland. Nothing is bigger than Punjab for me.
What prompted the government to withdraw your security?
Only the government or chief minister Parkash Singh Badal can answer that. I would like to ask them as to what transpired in a matter of hours that they restored the security. I am not afraid of anything and won’t take any pressure exerted on me.
If you are against the state government, shouldn’t your wife resign? Even the Congress wants that.
Asking for resignation is the right of the Congress. However, the Akali Dal has not spared her also as she has been repeatedly targeted in the past. Because of me, she has repeatedly faced discrimination. Even her effigies were burnt in her constituency by the alliance partner. Is Dr Sidhu corrupt or is she not sincere in her work? Why should she resign?
