Hoshiarpur, Jan 10 (Representative) Former Punjab Congress Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu stated on Tuesday that the party can regain prominence if its leaders refrain from commercializing politics and work towards winning the trust of the people. Speaking at the Punjab “Jittegi Congress Rally” in Hoshiarpur, Sidhu emphasised the need for a change in approach among the party leaders, urging them to show respect for party workers. He asserted that without understanding the concerns of the workers, achieving victory for the Congress would be challenging. Sidhu also emphasised the importance of acknowledging and respecting the contributions of old party leaders and workers. Criticising the Punjab govt. for alleged failures across various fronts, Sidhu claimed that law and order in the state has deteriorated. He expressed concerns about industrialists relocating their units to other states, citing the desire for peace among the people of Punjab. Sidhu asserted that the common man is a victim of fear, and hooligans are freely roaming the streets. Sidhu accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of coming to power in Punjab through false promises, stating that despite voting for change in the last assembly elections, nothing substantial has changed for the people. He criticised AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and CM Bhagwant Mann, alleging that they changed their own lifestyles instead of the system.
He expressed concern that under the AAP government, Punjab’s economy might decline in the next three years. He urged the youth to proactively step forward to prevent such a situation. Emphasising the importance of security for people’s lives and businesses, he suggested that this would discourage migration for employment abroad. Referring to CM Mann’s statement about foreigners coming for jobs, Sidhu highlighted the contradiction, stating that around 12 lakh passports were obtained by Punjab’s youth last year, and they sold properties worth crores of rupees to go abroad. Drawing attention to the alleged critical state financial situation, he questioned the policy of providing free electricity when it is purchased at Rs 20 per unit from external sources. He pointed out the prevalence of protests in Punjab, with state employees struggling to secure their rights. Sidhu advocated the creation of a mining corporation, predicting that it would generate one lakh jobs and contribute Rs 7000 crores in revenue for the state. He urged the Punjab government to formulate policies benefiting farmers and youths. Sidhu compared the revenue generated by the Punjab government from the sale of liquor to that of Tamil Nadu, underscoring the need for increased revenue despite the higher consumption of liquor in Punjab. He urged the Union govt. to provide maximum packages to the state.