Amarinder feels humiliated, quits
Says battle not over, calls Sidhu ‘anti-national’
Feeling “humiliated”, Congress’ Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh resigned on Saturday. On his way out, the Captain made it categorically clear that the battle was not over yet and that he would “exercise his options when the time comes.”
The Congress veteran indicated that he was in no mood to “accept” the new CM being thrust upon by the high command and hit out at his bête noire, state unit chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, calling him anti-national, unstable and incompetent.
The episode was triggered after the high command late Friday night called a legislature party meeting on Saturday and deputed two central
observers. The CLP later decided to leave the choice of the new CM to the high command.
Ajay Maken, an observer, said 78 MLAs out of 80 were present in the meeting. The name of Sunil Jhakar, former PCC president, is doing the rounds as the frontrunner. If the high command wants to choose a Jat Sikh Sukhjinder
Singh Randhawa maybe the candidate
“For the sake of my country, I’ll oppose his (Sidhu) name. Pakistan PM Imran Khan is his friend. Sidhu has a relation with Army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa,” Capt Singh said.
“Sidhu is an incompetent man. He is going to be a disaster. He couldn’t run one ministry I gave him,” the former CM said. “I was humiliated three times by the Congress leadership,” he said. “Previously MLAs were called to Delhi twice and now they convened CLP meeting in Chandigarh,” Capt. Singh said. “If there is any element of doubt over my ability, I feel humiliated.”
Saturday morning, he called up Congress oresident Sonia Gandhi and informed her he was not interested in continuing. He revealed that the Congress chief said, “I am sorry Amarinder.”
He added that he would decide his future political course in consultation with his supporters who have stood by him for over five decades. He said, “There is always an option, and I will use that option when the time comes. At the moment I am still in Congress,” The current episode will have a lasting impact for the party in the upcoming Assembly elections. In the last 20 years, the Congress campaign and strategy has centred around Capt. Singh. He enjoys the trust and support of the Jat Sikhs and Dalits and his service background attracts former defence personnel.
The Congress has fractured a substantial vote bank in terms of jat Sikhs. Also, the treatment meted out to the Capt. just before the elections has not gone down well.