Navjot Sidhu To Start Fast-Onto-Death From Saturday For Amritsar

[Mehtab Singh]

Chandigarh, Sept 27: After remaining silent for just three days after being directed to do so by the BJP top brass, Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu Friday announced that he will start a fast-onto-death from Saturday to seek development of his constituency.

"I was directed by party president Rajnath Singh to remain silent. For me, party discipline is on one side and my duty for Amritsar and its people is on the other side.

"Without talking against anyone and without blaming anyone, I have decided to fulfil my duty for Amritsar and will sit on fast unto death from Saturday," Sidhu said in a statement released by his office in Amritsar, 250 km from here. Sidhu had blamed the Punjab government for scuttling development projects meant for Amritsar, but the state government Friday claimed that there was "no delay" on executing development projects in Amritsar. Sidhu, who remained absent from his constituency for nearly eight months, returned to Amritsar earlier this month, and hit out at the Parkash Singh Badal government for not doing enough for the development of Amritsar despite it being a Sikh holy city.

The outburst by Sidhu on the Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance government left the chief minister peeved. Badal even refused to meet Sidhu earlier this week when Rajnath Singh tried to resolve the controversy. The Akali Dal-BJP have an alliance government in the state since March 2007. Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is also the deputy chief minister, said Sidhu's issues were an "internal matter" of the BJP since most of the issues pertained to departments handled by BJP ministers in the Punjab government.

Sidhu had not only blamed the Badal government for ignoring Amritsar, which is home to the holiest of Sikh shrines 'Harmandar Sahib' (popularly known as Golden Temple), but even alleged that crores of rupees meant for the city's development were diverted by the government to other places. He sought a judicial probe into the diversion of funds. In a statement issued after Sidhu announced his fast-onto-death, the Punjab government said: "Development projects in Amritsar have always been undertaken and pursued with expeditiousness, urgency and speed befitting the immense religious and historical status of the city.

"There has never been any delay at the level of the state government or the local bodies in Amritsar. The only delays have been for reasons beyond the government control such as court interventions or Government of India clearances." The state government statement claimed that there were no "anomalies" in the Amritsar Improvement Trust lending money as loan on interest to other local bodies. Admitting that crores of rupees were lent to other municipal authorities, the statement said that everything was done according to rulers and procedures.

A spokesman of the Punjab government disclosed Friday that Chief Minister Badal had already replied to Sidhu's letter, giving detailed information on status of various projects, as sought by Sidhu. The chief minister Friday described Sidhu's announcement as "unfortunate and unwarranted". Talking to the media in Mohali near Chandigarh, Badal said that Sidhu should not have taken this step on these issues which could have been amicably resolved across the table. He said he always held Sidhu in high esteem.

http://www.samachar.com/Navjot-Sidhu-to-start-fastontodeath-from-Saturday-for-Amritsar-nj1xN2jbjbd.html

[Jonny101]

This is internal infighting in the Punjab BJP and it's been going on for some time now.. Sidhu vs rest of the Punjab BJP. The central BJP party leadership seems to like Sidhu, but state level BJP of Punjab is sidelining him for some reason. Since BJP is an ally of Akali Dal Badal, sidhu is also lashing out at Akali Dal. Since Punjab BJP does not want Sidhu to contest the next elections in Amritsar, the Majithia of Akali Dal is trying to get his father the party ticket for Amritsar. Seeing Sidhu lashing out at Akali Dal-BJP government, the Punjab Congress party of Bajwa has come out in open support of Sidhu even though they don't have any real love for Sidhu.

One must remember one thing, none of these politicians has any real love for the people of Punjab whether it is Sidhu, BJP, SAD, Congress or even Manpreet Badal. Today Sidhu and before him Manpreet were making very bold statements and saying they are raising their voice for the benifit of the people of Punjab. But why do they only raise their voice when they are being sidelined? why didn't they raise their voice when they were part and parcel of the party leadership? This is all just political Bhaashans being done by these politicians. There is no real sincere person amongst them.

[ThunderousDominator]

This scumbag mustve been desprate for the attention i wonder what the excuse will be when he finally breaks it

[Jonny101]

This scumbag mustve been desprate for the attention i wonder what the excuse will be when he finally breaks it

Sidhu is just the same as the people he is opposing. I remember when Advani came to Punjab and many Panthic Sikhs protesting against him were brutally manhandled. Sikhs were protesting because Advani had written in his biography that he is responsible for operation bluestar happening. When Advani went to Darbar Sahib, after which he was invited to Teja Singh Samundary hall by the SGPC to be given a saropa. One independent SGPC member questioned Advani as to why he supported operation operation bluestar which killed so many Sikhs. At the time no one spoke, but Sidhu of all people who was present there angrily threatened that Sikh right there and then for daring to question Advani. So Sikhs must remember that Navjot Sidhu is no friend of the SIkhs. Now that he is being sidelined, he is now pretending to be a man of the people of Amritsar. He is just doing a political stunt.

[Sikhistan]

Let them fight !! we should relax and watch them.

Two ppl (majithia and sidhu) fighting for their name in majha area.

they will fight till the end.

[Shamshere]

Murderer!

[lsingh]

The truth is that Amritsar has been neglected by all political parties. Excuses that's its near the border have been given , but why did Pakistan develop Lahore as the their main city? Even the airport has been neglected even though most people want to fly from there, first the landing costs are made far higher than Delhi, direct flights are not allowed for no reason, they have to go via Delhi, Badal starts building Chandigarh airport even though its 3hrs from Delhi and makes no sense. During Ranjit Singh's time it was the finest city in North India according to western travellers.

[JasSinghKhalsa]

Will Sidhu not be attending Kapil's Comdey Nights now and doing HAHAHAHAHA .

[jasdeepsingh2k125]

Will Sidhu not be attending Kapil's Comdey Nights now and doing HAHAHAHAHA .

cha gaye guru

[SikhKosh]

Guess what?

He has called it off, LOL.