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Navjot Sidhu Attacks AAP, Wants To Launch 'Awaaz-E-Punjab'

Awaaz-E-Punjab will be a a non-political front for "betterment" of Punjab.
File photo of former Indian cricketer and lawmaker Navjot Singh Sidhu.
Ajay Verma / Reuters
File photo of former Indian cricketer and lawmaker Navjot Singh Sidhu.

CHANDIGARH -- Playing the cards close to his chest, cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu today launched a non-political front in Punjab attacking the Akali-BJP combine, Congress and the AAP but gave no indication about who he will align with in the Assembly elections

He dubbed the AAP, with which he was widely speculated to be eyeing a tie up, as "anarchy in the garb of democracy" and said its leader Arvind Kejriwal wants only "yes-men".

Addressing a press conference at the formal launch of "Awaaz-E-Punjab", a non-political front for "betterment" of Punjab, the former BJP leader, who quit his Rajya Sabha seat in July, said its aim is to hand over the power of democracy to people after ending "the rule of one family" in the state.

Sidhu said that in the next 15-20 days he will come out with the front's future plan.

Launching a frontal attack on the Badals, who have been in power for a decade, he said the "'kaale Badal' (dark clouds) have overshadowed Punjab and people are keen to see sunlight".

"People elect government for themselves and not for a family," he said, alleging that Badals have made Punjab and the party as their family fiefdom.

He also claimed that Akalis and Congress were "two sides of the same coin" who fought a "friendly-match" and ruined Punjab, which needed a change for its better future.

Clearing the air over speculation about his joining AAP, Sidhu claimed that the AAP leadership was after him for the last two years and made many offers.

He accused Kejriwal of speaking "half truth" as he was told to not contest but only campaign.

"Kejriwal and his men were luring me for last two years to join AAP. They offered many things but I only asked them to define my role. I wanted to know his intentions and his aim.

"He told me not to contest but only campaign. But he said my wife can contest and will make her a minister. I thanked him. He also wanted to make me a decoration piece, which I was earlier," he told reporters.

Attacking the AAP leader, Sidhu said, "Kejriwal wants only yes men...arrogance in democracy is not acceptable."

File photo of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in Punjab.
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
File photo of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in Punjab.

"Kejriwal thinks only he is honest and no one else is and it is his copyright. He feels others have no right to say that they are honest. I am sitting here with people who are to help Punjab. I am ready to give my life for Punjab," said Sidhu, who was flanked by Olympian and rebel SAD MLA Pargat Singh and Bains brothers--Simarjeet and Balwinder.

"Kejriwal is always trying to indulge in one-upmanship and take credit and no one else is allowed to do so."

He claimed that people have suffered in the hands of five years of Congress government led by Capt Amarinder Singh and during the last 10 years of 'danda tantra' (rule of the stick) during which he alleged, false cases were slapped on people and votes secured through polarisation.

Sidhu formally launched the front as Kejriwal started his four-day visit to the state to boost the party's campaign.

Sidhu sought 15-20 days more to spell out what would be the role of his newly launched front.

AFP/Getty Images

Without spelling out if 'Awaaz e Punjab' will be launched as a political party later on, Sidhu said it is a forum of like minded people for the betterment of Punjab.

He went into details on why things with AAP did not materialise, how he was strongly opposed to the ruling Badals and mystery surrounding his surprise decision to resign from the Rajya Sabha seat recently.

Sidhu began by telling journalists that he would prefer to address them in Punjabi, saying "If a Punjabi person does not speak in Punjabi, it looks like he is telling a lie."

"The issue I am putting up before you today is serious, it will answer most of your queries. Aawaz-e-Punjab's objective is to make Punjab which is in dire straits prosperous again," he said.

"It has become tradition in India and in Punjab to use good people as decoration pieces, when you need them use them and later on dump them. This has become the tradition."

Attacking the Badal family, Sidhu said ideology of 'Awaaz e Punjab' is to empower people of Punjab rather than present concentration of power which is only with ruling Badal family.

Noting that Badals have "no policy and no desire" to resurrect Punjab, he said "dark 'Badal' (cloud) has overshadowed Punjab and people are keen to see sunlight."

"Aawaz-e-Punjab's objective is to make Punjab which is in dire straits prosperous again."

Without naming his own party BJP, he said like them, Kejriwal too wanted him to be just a "decoration piece" who are used and then dumped once the job is done.

Sidhu held that no party is good or bad, but it's the people who run it and their thinking what matters.

He noted that need of the hour is to revive and redeem "hapless" Punjab. "Currently, Punjab is in worse condition," he said. We are not fighting for personal gains but for the better future of Punjab," he said.

He said people of Punjab want change of governance and this can be done by those leaders who are strong.

"We will work for Punjab, Punjabiat and in the end Punjabiat and people of Punjab will win," he said.

He accused Badals of controlling all the businesses in Punjab and even mortaging government properties for their own family's benefit.

Sidhu alleged both Badal and Amarinder Singh (Punjab Congress chief) are two sides of one coin. "They are playing a friendly match," he said, adding this had led to frustrated people raising their voices.

Hitting out at Badals and Amarinder, he said "they are rich in ambition and poor in condition."

Over the issue of his quitting the Rajya Sabha seat, he said that "It had nothing to do with AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal. I had refused the Rajya Sabha seat two years back."

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.