Don’t teach me how to rule the state, Capt tells Sukhbir

CHANDIGARH: Chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday hit out at Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal for questioning his style of functioning, saying he did not need any lessons from the former deputy chief minister on how to govern the state.

At a political conference in Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda on Saturday, Sukhbir had questioned Amarinder’s style of functioning and alleged he had no control over the government and that the bureaucracy has become unbridled and police top brasses were having a free run.

“Sukhbir’s statement is totally senseless, conveying nothing more than his frustration over his party’s virtual effacement from the state’s political scene,” said Amarinder.

Unlike the Akalis, led by the Badals, Amarinder said he believed in giving a free hand to his civil and police administration to function efficiently without fear or favour so that they can deliver effectively.

“The bureaucrats and police officials had been totally stifled by the Badals,” said CM.

Had he not given a free hand to the police, gang wars, targeted killings and the desecrations that had destroyed the state’s law and order under the Akali regime would still have been continuing, Amarinder added.

He also challenged Sukhbir to come out with even one legal remedy which could have enabled the government to reverse its stand before the Supreme Court in the Navjot Singh Sidhu road rage case.

‘NO QUESTION OF SIDHU RESIGNING’

Putting to rest speculation that local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu would be resigning from the state cabinet in the wake of road rage case against him in the Supreme Court, Amarinder said there was no question of asking the minister to quit.