Hindustan Times (Delhi)

Sidhu quits as MP amid buzz he could lead AAP in Punjab

- Aseem Bassi aseem.bassi@hindustant­imes.com

AMRITSAR: It was a googly that the BJP least expected on the first day of Parliament’s monsoon session on Monday.

Cricketer-turned-BJP politician Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned from the Rajya Sabha amid reports that he will join the Punjab wing of the

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the run-up to the assembly polls — most likely as its chief ministeria­l candidate. He was nominated to the upper

House in April. private vehicles over 10 years old Old diesel vehicles have outdated pollution-control systems and emit more soot and harmful gases such as sulphur oxides

APRIL 7, 2015

NGT bans plying of diesel vehicles older than 10 years in the Capital Number of diesel vehicles registered in Delhi

commercial vehicles

APRIL 20

Supreme Court upholds ban, transport associatio­ns go on strike The 52-year-old politician’s decision is seen as a culminatio­n of his tense equation with the BJP ever since he was denied the party ticket from Amritsar — a constituen­cy he had represente­d thrice — in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. While his resignatio­n is a major setback for the BJP, it has come as a shot in the arm for AAP ahead of the polls. Sidhu — sporting a yellow turban — reached Parliament before the Rajya Sabha assembled, and submitted his resignatio­n to chairman Hamid Ansari. It was immediatel­y accepted because he had personally appeared before the chairman, and there was

AUGUST 20

The green tribunal refuses to stay its earlier order

JULY 18, 2016

NGT asks Delhi government to de-register such vehicles with immediate effect no need for further verificati­on.

Soon afterwards, Sidhu issued a terse statement clarifying that he had accepted the Rajya Sabha nomination at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the welfare of Punjab. “(But) With the closure of every window leading to Punjab, the purpose stands defeated. It is now a mere burden, I prefer not to carry it,” he said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 >> RELATED REPORTS ON P13

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Navjot Singh Sidhu

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