New Delhi, Oct 21 (Agency) Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday launched an attack at Harish Rawat for his remarks questioning his ‘secularism’, and reminded him that Navjot Singh Sidhu was inducted in Congress after spending 14 years in the BJP. “Stop talking about secularism Harish Rawat ji. Don’t forget Congress took in Navjot Singh Sidhu after he was with BJP for 14 years,” Singh said, according to a tweet by his media advisor Raveen Thukral.
He raised questions on a number of Congress leaders. “…And where did Nana Patole and Revnath Reddy come from, if not RSS? And Pargat Singh was with Akali Dal for four years,” he said. “And what are you doing with Shiv Sena in Maharashtra? Or are you saying Harish Rawat ji that it’s ok to join forces with so-called communal parties as long as it suits Congress’ purpose. What’s this if not sheer political opportunism?” “Today you’re accusing me of helping my rival Akali Dal for four and a half years Harish Rawat ji. Is that why you think I’ve been fighting court cases against them for the last 10 years? And why I’ve won Congress all elections in Punjab since 2017?” he questioned. “Your apprehension I’ll damage Congress interests in Punjab.
Fact is Harish Rawat ji, the party has damaged its own interests by not trusting me and giving Punjab Congress into the hands of an unstable person like Navjot Singh Sidhu who’s only loyal to himself,” he said. Singh had resigned as the Punjab chief minister on September 18, and had said that he felt “humiliated” by the party. Days later he had met Home Minister Amit Shah in the national capital amid speculations of him joining the BJP. The veteran politician however made it clear that he was not joining any other party. On Tuesday, he announced he would launch his own party, and ally with the BJP for the upcoming state assembly polls if the farmers’ agitation is resolved. Reacting to his announcement, Rawat, the Punjab in-charge of the party, had questioned his secular values.