'Will return as Punjab Congress chief when…' Sidhu withdraws resignation
Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday withdrew his resignation from the post of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief. However, Sidhu said he will take charge only after the Advocate General (AG) is replaced. The 58-year-old had resigned about a month ago after differences with the party leadership over the controversial appointment of senior advocate APS Deol as the Punjab AG.
Why does it matter?
Sidhu was miffed over Deol's appointment as he had recently served as the counsel for former Punjab Director General of Police Sumedh Singh Saini. Saini was facing a case involving sacrilege and police firing on protesters. Deol had secured a blanket bail for Saini in all four cases registered by the Punjab Police. Reportedly, Sidhu believed the move highlighted the state government's hypocrisy.
Sidhu's attack on Punjab government
Sindhu told reporters that he will take charge the day Punjab's AG gets replaced. The AG and DGP are important positions to bring the Bargari sacrilege and drugs case to a logical conclusion, he said. He questioned the Charanjit Singh Channi government's intention to deliver justice in the sacrilege and drugs case. He said there had been no developments in the past 50 days.
Sidhu resigned shortly after taking charge
Sidhu was appointed the Punjab PCC chief in July. By September, he resigned after the allocation of portfolios in CM Channi's state Cabinet. Sidhu wrote in his resignation letter that he can never compromise on Punjab's future. Notably, the resignation had also come after the resignation of Channi's predecessor, Amarinder Singh. Singh and Sidhu had been having a power tussle for months.
Sidhu's continued criticism of Channi
In October, Sidhu had written to the interim Congress President seeking justice in the sacrilege and drugs cases, sand mining, employment, agricultural issues, and the welfare of backward classes. Sidhu had remained critical of the Channi government even as reports said the state government was preparing to notify the appointment of a new AG. Deol had quit as the Punjab AG on Monday.
