SAD WANTS SIDHU SACKED

CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), on Friday, demanded the dismissal of local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu from the Punjab council of ministers, following the state government’s endorsement of his conviction in a murder case. It also accused the Congress government of playing a fixed match with Sidhu and of shielding him.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, Akali leader Daljit Singh Cheema said, “It is strange that the govt is sending one report to the SC endorsing the murder conviction against Sidhu, but has refused to follow it up with an appropriate communication to the governor.” He added that after the Punjab government’s stand before the Supreme Court, it was obligatory on the part of the chief minister to send a parallel letter to the state governor, recommending the dismissal of Sidhu.

“The presence of Sidhu in the Punjab cabinet is not only utterly untenable on moral grounds, but is also a grave legal and constitutional absurdity, mocking the constitution of India,” said Akali leaders Bikram Singh Majithia, Cheema and Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal.

Claiming that the principle of collective responsibility had been violated, Grewal said, “If Sidhu agrees with the government that endorses his conviction, then he has to accept that and resign. If he disagrees with the government, then also, he has no right to remain in the government on the grounds of collective responsibility.”