Hindustan Times (Amritsar)

‘Sadda Captain’ hoardings surface

- HT Correspond­ent letterschd@hindustant­imes.com ■

LUDHIANA : Two days after local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu courted controvers­y by describing Congress president Rahul Gandhi as his captain instead of chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, hoardings describing the CM as the captain of Punjab surfaced in the city.

The hoardings featuring Amarinder in the centre and local MP Ravneet Singh Bittu and food and civil supplies minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu on his sides were seen dotting the key locations across the city, including busy intersecti­ons, on Sunday

These hoardings carry small images of Rahul and UPA chairperso­n Sonia Gandhi on the margins.

Sidhu’s statement came on Friday when he was asked why he went to attend the Kartarpur corridor ground-breaking ceremony in Pakistan without taking Captain’s permission. He had also said the Punjab CM is a captain of the army.

BITTU BACKS CM

Bittu, who was at Dera Beas in Amritsar district to attend a spiritual discourse on Sunday, said, “Amarinder is the real captain. The Congress came to power in Punjab just because he was the face of the party. People had voted for Amarinder and by installing these hoardings, party activists have reiterated their faith in the CM.”

On the other hand, Ashu

The Congress came to power in Punjab just because he was the face of the party. By installing these hoardings, party workers have reiterated faith in the CM. RAVNEET SINGH BITTU, Ludhiana MP

claimed that he was unaware about the hoardings.

“I am in Rajasthan for electionee­ring and am not aware of any such hoardings. You better ask Bittu about it,” he said.

Some local leaders, on the condition of anonymity, said these hoardings were installed on the directions of some cabinet ministers who are considered close to the CM.

These ministers, they claimed, had held a meeting in Chandigarh on Saturday and decided to counter Sidhu on the issue. Even on social media, some local politician­s were seen rallying behind Amarinder and denouncing Sidhu’s comments.

 ??  ?? A hoarding with CM Amarinder Singh in the centre and Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu and minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu on his side dotted key locations in Ludhiana on Sunday. GURPREET SINGH/HT
A hoarding with CM Amarinder Singh in the centre and Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu and minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu on his side dotted key locations in Ludhiana on Sunday. GURPREET SINGH/HT

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