Stuntman, not a freedom fighter: AAP slams Navjot Sidhu over 'akhbari mukhmantri' jibe

Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu being welcomed on his release from the Central Jail after spending nearly 10 months in Patiala central jail in a 1988 road rage death case, in Patiala, Saturday, April 1, 2023. (PTI Photo)

By Manjeet Sehgal: Former Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu's remarks against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab has drawn a sharp reaction. The former Punjab Congress president described Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann as "akhbari mukhmantri" for giving big ads in newspapers. Sidhu also criticised his government over law and order and poll promises.

Reacting to Navjot Singh Sidhu's remarks about the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab, AAP chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang reminded the cricketer-turned-politician that he was in jail on charges of killing a man.

Malvinder Singh said Sidhu is not a freedom fighter but was lodged in jail as a convict in a murder case.

Malvinder Singh slammed Navjot Singh Sidhu for his allegations that the AAP government delayed his release. The AAP spokesperson said that Sidhu was behaving like a stuntman and was making false statements about the state government.

Released from Patiala jail after ten months, Navjot Singh Sidhu hit out at the AAP government for allegedly trying to hold back his release by a few hours, claiming that it was “scared so much it does not want to listen to the truth.”

"Instead of being remorseful, Sidhu remains a loquacious person. He was convicted for a road rage case in which an elderly person lost his life," Malvinder Singh Kang said.

The AAP leader also advised Navjot Singh Sidhu to take rest and not to issue statements in overexcitement.

"Sidhu's statement clearly shows that he was in a hurry to please his political bosses. He should sit in the midst of the family and pray to God as he spent nearly a year in jail," Kang said.

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THE CASE AGAINST SIDHU

Earlier on Saturday, the state and central governments were on the target of Navjot Singh Sidhu after he walked out of the jail. Sidhu (59), was sent to prison in May 2022 after being sentenced to one-year rigorous imprisonment by the Supreme Court over the death of Gurnam Singh, 65, in a road rage case.

He went on a 45-day remission for his conduct in jail and was expected to complete his sentence on May 16.

While referring to the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann as his younger brother, Sidhu accused him of selling his dreams and ignoring the state.

"I want to ask my younger brother, Bhagwant Mann, why did you fool the people of Punjab? You made tall promises, cracked jokes, but you are just a CM on paper today," Sidhu said.

Navjot Sidhu also accused the Union government of hatching a conspiracy to impose President's rule in Punjab.

"They are trying to weaken Punjab. Democracy is in chains. There is nothing like democracy today. Institutions have turned into slaves and have been made a rubber doll" Navjot Sidhu said on Saturday.

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SIDHU's RIVALS AVOID VISTING PATIALA

Interestingly, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring removed Navdeep Singh Sultanwind as block Congress president (Amritsar East) when Sidhu was released from jail. Navdeep Singh is one of Sidhu's close aides.

Sidhu's release is likely to fan factionalism within the Punjab unit of Congress once again.

Last year, the infighting in the Punjab Congress came out in the open after the party leadership declared Charanjit Singh Channi as its chief ministerial face, ignoring Navjot Sidhu, who was the then party's state president.

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