On Friday, January 15, Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh deputed four cabinet ministers of the state to attend the funeral of soldiers who were martyred in the Pulwama attack. However, state cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu defied CM’s order and instead of attending the funeral of Jaimal Singh in Moga, he went to a function of Ludhiana Municipal Corporation.
Addressing the event Sidhu said that terrorism has no religion and also urged to not derail the Kartarpur Corridor Project in the wake of Pulwama attack. Though the former cricketer ‘lashed out’ against the terrorists his actions present a different story altogether. When he was asked about his meeting with Pakistan Army General Bajwa, Sidhu stated that he had already given the clarification on it.
Moreover, Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh condemned Pakistan for the Pulwama attacks and called for a befitting reply to perpetrators. The CM said, “Enough is enough … The time for talking peace is over and I think it is time to teach them a lesson, and I hope the Government of India will understand this point and will take it up.”
Captain also added that Imran Khan is just a stooge of the Pakistani Army as he added, “Bajwa is the commander in chief and Bajwa’s army made him (Imran) PM and (Pakistani intelligence agency) ISI is under Bajwa.” The CM went on to add, “What is the double game being played at their national level, earning Sikhs sympathies by saying these things and on the other hand, killing people in the country.” He further added, “Among those killed in terror attack were four sewaks of Guru Nanak Dev.” Continuing with his attack on the Pakistan army chief, Singh added, “Let their Bajwa know. I want to say openly. You are a Punjabi and we are also Punjabi you dare to try anything in Punjab we will set you right.”
Now when everyone appreciates Captain’s heartfelt speech in the Vidhan Sabha, a demand to sack controversial politician Navjot Singh Sidhu is also getting prominence. Sidhu is the same man who has repeated the rhetoric that terror has no religion, as he said, “For a handful of people, can you blame the entire nation and can you blame an individual? It (the attack) is a cowardly act and I condemn it firmly.”
Now, it is upon to Captain to decide whether he wants to continue with someone like Sidhu or not. By not attending the martyr’s funeral, Sidhu has made it clear that he values his personal relations with Imran more than the nation. After controversy erupting over Sidhu’s remark, the makers of the popular sitcom the Kapil Sharma Show, and the broadcasting channel Sony Entertainment Television sacked Navjot Singh Sidhu from the show and its time for Captain to follow the suit. With the kind of leader Punjab CM is, Sidhu’s departure from Punjab cabinet appears to be just a matter of time.