Navjot Singh Sidhu Meets Rahul Gandhi And Priyanka Days After Losing Key Ministry
The sulking former cricketer-turned-politician is yet to take charge in his new ministry.
New Delhi, June 10: Punjab Cabinet minister and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is at loggerheads with Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, on Monday met party chief Rahul Gandhi and General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi in Delhi. Navjot Singh Sidhu appraised Rahul Gandhi of the "situation" in Punjab days after he was removed from a key ministry and given a new one. The sulking former cricketer-turned-politician is yet to take charge in his new ministry.
"Met the Congress President, handed him my letter, appraised him of the situation (sic)," Sidhu tweeted. His tweet carries his picture with Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka and senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel. It is not clear whether Sidhu offered his resignation. On Thursday, Amarinder Singh divested Sidhu of his Local Government portfolio and gave him the charge of Power and New and Renewable Energy Sources. His other portfolio of Tourism and Cultural Affairs was also taken over by the Chief Minister.
The rift between the Chief Minister and Sidhu widened when Amarinder preferred to keep Sidhu out of crucial consultative groups that were announced on Saturday to review progress and make changes, if needed, in the government's flagship programmes and schemes. Sidhu has been camping in the national capital since Friday to have an audience with the party's top leadership. Navjot Singh Sidhu Skips Punjab Cabinet Meeting Called by Capt Amarinder, Says 'Can't Take Me For Granted'.
Taking an indirect dig at Amarinder, widely known as 'Captain' owing to his Army background, Sidhu is often quoted as saying "his Captain is Rahul Gandhi". Amarinder, on the other hand, had rebuked him for hugging Pakistan army chief during the swearing-in ceremony of Imran Khan. After the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Chief Minister had blamed Sidhu for inept handling of the local government department for the poor performance of the Congress party.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 10, 2019 02:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).