Not Joining BJP, But Leaving Congress Which Sidelines Seniors: Amarinder Singh
Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday dismissed the rumours of him joining the BJP but said he would definitely quit the Congress, which he said was going downhill with senior leaders completely ignored and not given a voice.
Denying any move to join the BJP, Amarinder Singh said he would leave the Congress where he had been “utterly humiliated and not trusted”. “I will resign…will not stay in the party,” he said, adding that he was still thinking through his options in the interest of Punjab, whose security was the predominant priority for him. “I will not be treated in this humiliating manner…I will not take such insults,” he said, adding that his principles and beliefs do not allow him to stay with Congress.
Terming the senior Congressmen as the “thinkers”, who were critical to the future of the party, Amarinder Singh said the younger leadership should be promoted to implement the plans, which the senior leaders are best equipped to formulate. Unfortunately, the seniors were being completely sidelined, he said, adding this was not good for the party.
He also condemned the attack on Kapil Sibal’s house by Congress workers. This happened only because he had chosen to express views that were not palatable to the party leadership, said Amarinder Singh.
Expressing the hope that Punjab would vote for the future of the state, he said his experience showed that the people of Punjab tend to vote for a single party or force, irrespective of the number of parties in the fray.
Misgovernance in Punjab would allow Pakistan to create trouble in the state and the country, he said, adding that his meeting with NSA Ajit Doval Thursday morning centred around this issue.
It may be recalled that Captain Amarinder had raised security concerns with Home Minister Amit Shah too, along with the farmers’ issue, during his meeting with the latter Wednesday.
Taking a dig at those who “undermine” the growing Pakistani threat in Punjab, he said that such people were “playing into the hands of anti-India forces” by being in denial mode. “They (Pak-backed elements) are killing our soldiers every day, they are pushing weapons into the state through drones. How can we overlook these dangers,” he added.
Reiterating his opinion of Navjot Singh Sidhu, Captain Amarinder described him as a mere crowd-puller who does not know how to carry his team along. He said he had personally worked with many PPCC chiefs, besides himself being one, and that they all resolved issues amicably, without indulging in theatrics like Sidhu.