Sidhu meets the press, speaks almost known facts, doesn’t reply questions, leaves

Correspondent, New Delhi: You must be aware of that suspense building advertisement campaign over hoardings at prominent places across city. Lastly saw such campaign by Pankaj Oil. So what happens is, first you see series of hoardings across the city announcing: Pankaj is coming. And then after few days they announce on same hoardings: Pankaj is coming back. And after few days they announce on same hoardings: Pankaj cooking oil, it’s back.

OK! This Navjot Singh Sidhu is doing same. First he submits his resignation, but doesn’t take media’s phone call. Next day he issues a small statement which doesn’t answer popular questions like his next course of action and else. Another day, his wife comes before cameras, but says she doesn’t know about her husband’s future course of action.

A gap of few days. And then another topics takeover the media attention. When traction completely dies down. Sidhu reemerges and gives long statement before media. He speaks about his political career so far that everyone knows very well about. He then plays victimhood card, and then says same thing that he had earlier mentioned in his in-brief written statement and his wife had mentioned in her media interactions. Sidhu says he wants to serve Punjab. He says people would find him standing where Punjab’s good is there.

Sidhu doesn’t take any question from media and hurriedly stands up after giving video statement. He leaves the place then-after quickly. Media persons chase his car in order to get replies of mainly two questions: Whether he has left BJP, and which party he is going to join next. Sidhu doesn’t oblige.

Media persons ask political parties to react. BJP leader from Punjab reacts, why Sidhu in first place accepted the Rajya Sabha membership, if he wanted to leave it in three months?! Sidhu was not pushed to Rajya Sabha, he accepted the offer, took oath, signed document, spent three months!

Only thing that could be used as headline after today’s press conference was Sidhu’s remark in which he said that he left Rajya Sabha because he was asked not to look at Punjab.

So did BJP actually tell Sidhu not to involve himself in Punjab issues, apparently due to known displeasure against him among Akali leadership?

Well Sidhu said so, but timing is interesting. Sidhu wasn’t inducted as union minister in recent reshuffle. If first term MP and singer Babul Supriyo can be in ministry, why not four-time MP Sidhu? After all the union cabinet had no Sikh face. BJP selected Ahluwalia as Sikh face and inducted him to cabinet, but not Sidhu. This could be the boiling point for Sidhu after previous “injustice” by party – that was about denying him ticket to contest Amritsar Lok Sabha seat in 2014. Sidhu’s wife who is BJP MLA from Amritsar however says Sidhu family has never demanded anything from their political party so far. Sidhu too maintains he has no lust for any position.

When asked to react to Sidhu’s today’s press conference, Akali Dal leader from Punjab said: Sidhu and his wife are opportunist. They started speaking against Akali government only after Sidhu was denied ticket to contest from Amritsar. Akali leader further said: Why Sidhu’s wife is continuing in Akali-BJP alliance government and enjoying all privileges if she has problem with the government?

Congress and AAP leaders reacted that Sidhu should join their party. AAP leader was very confident that Sidhu will join AAP subsequently.

Sidhu personally enjoys respect in Amritsar. He is former cricketer, he is comedy show actor, he has been accused of neglecting his constituency and political responsibilities, but politically speaking his image is good among voters in Amritsar. Adding to that he is good orator. He brings entertainment to political campaigns. Modi has used him aggressively during the Gujarat elections in 2012 and even before and after that. Modi personally would not like to lose Sidhu, but he would not be in position to succumb to Sidhu’s terms and conditions. Also Modi would not rate Sidhu as high as Sidhu rates himself. Sidhu would like BJP to go alone in upcoming Punjab assembly elections under his leadership. In Punjab, Akalis dislike Sidhu, but Akali Dal is major partner of Akali-BJP ruling alliance, and BJP is in no mood to leave Alakis even after clearly visible anti-incumbency there ahead of assembly polls. Akali Dal leader Parkashsingh has stood by BJP and in-particular Modi in every season, and BJP after enjoying two terms in power in Punjab with Akalis does not seem to leave Akalis.

At this juncture, Sidhu looks like a person with disco-mind. He is hurting his image. More he is likely to hurt in coming times.

DeshGujarat