Patiala : Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday night walked free after spending practically 10 months in Patiala Central Jail in a 1988 street rage case and focused the Centre and Punjab authorities, alleging that democracy is in chains and establishments have turned slaves within the nation.
Sidhu had been in jail since Might 20 final yr after the Supreme Courtroom convicted him the street rage case, sentencing him to at least one yr in jail. The Congress chief received a 45-day remission for his conduct within the jail. His scheduled launch from jail was on Might 16.
“At any time when dictatorship got here within the nation, a revolution got here and right this moment, I say the revolution’s title is Rahul Gandhi,” the previous Punjab Congress chief advised reporters after strolling out of the jail. He mentioned the Congress is preventing in opposition to oppression.
“Right this moment democracy is in chains, there may be nothing like democracy right this moment,” he alleged. “Establishments have turned slaves and these have been made rubber ‘ke gudde’ (dolls).”
He additionally claimed {that a} conspiracy is being hatched to impose the President’s Rule in Punjab.
“… They’re making an attempt to weaken Punjab. I stand like a wall with Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi (Vadra) and each Congress employee,” Sidhu mentioned, in an obvious dig on the Centre and the state authorities over the law-and-order problem within the backdrop of Amritpal Singh controversy.
Focusing on the central and state governments on legislation and order within the border state, the previous cricketer mentioned: “There’s a conspiracy to impose President’s rule in Punjab. They’re making an attempt to weaken Punjab.” Sidhu’s assertion got here within the backdrop of fugitive pro-Khalistan chief Amritpal Singh’s controversy.
Sidhu, who was anticipated to be launched from thew the jail by midday, walked out solely within the night.
Attacking the state authorities over delay in his launch, Sidhu mentioned the Bhagwant Mann authorities was ready for the media and Congress staff to return. “However they stood like a rock and waited for me,” he mentioned.
“I wish to ask my youthful brother (Punjab CM) Bhagwant Mann. Why did you idiot the individuals of Punjab? You made tall guarantees, cracked jokes. However you might be simply CM on paper right this moment,” alleged the cricketer-turned-politician.
On legislation and order, Sidhu attacked Mann mentioned that earlier you bought one Sidhu killed (referring to Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala) and haven’t problem if yet one more Sidhu will die.
He mentioned the AAP authorities has provided free electrical energy by taking ₹25,000 crore debt and it has surrendered earlier than the central authorities. He additionally questioned AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal over guarantees of producing ₹20,000 crore income from sand and gravel.
Sidhu received a rousing welcome after his launch from the jail. Whereas no senior Congress chief was there to obtain him, occasion leaders Lal Singh, former MLA Navtej Singh Cheema, Ashwani Sekhri, Sukhwinder Singh Danny, former MP Shamsher Singh Dullo, Surjit Singh Dhiman and others remained current.
Field
No senior Cong chief in welcome occasion
HT Correspondent
Letterschd@hindustantimes.com
Patiala
A pointy divide was seen within the state unit of the Congress when occasion chief Navjot Singh Sidhu walked out of the Patiala Central Jail on Saturday night.
Not one of the senior occasion leaders had been there to welcome the previous cricketer. Former CM Charanjit Singh Channi, PPCC president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, chief of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, former deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, former minister Pargat Singh amongst others gave the welcome occasion a miss.
Warring, together with the previous MLA Kublir Singh Zira and whole Majha Congress leaders had been siding with Sidhu when Captain Amarinder Singh was ousted because the CM in 2021.
Sidhu didn’t meet Warring and Randhawa once they visited him within the jail.
Those that gave rousing welcome to Sidhu included Congress chief Lal Singh, former MLA, Navtej Singh Cheema, Ashwani Sekhri, Sukhwinder Singh Danny, former MP Shamsher Singh Dullo and Surjit Singh Dhiman.
Taking dig at Warring, former MLA and Sidhu loyalist Surjit Singh Dhiman mentioned: “Sidhu is national-level chief and no state chief can match his persona.”