Farmers Movement Archive

‘Navjot Singh Sidhu wanted to attend Rahul’s entire programme’

Congress general secretary incharge of Punjab affairs Harish Rawat on Saturday clarified that Amritsar (East) MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu was not upset with the party anymore. He tells Vibhor Mohan that there was no plan to replace Sunil Jakhar as the Punjab Congress president for now. Your attempts to go all-out to placate Navjot Singh Sidhu has made many in the Punjab Congress unit uncomfortable, making them cite his absence from the last two days of Rahul Gandhi’s programme last week. Your comments. The entire programme to oppose the farm laws had to be strategically planned. It was only the CLP leader (chief minister Amarinder Singh), PCC president (Jakhar) and myself who were to be there on all the three days. Sidhu was to be there at the launch of the ‘Tractor Rally’ on October 4. That is what was finalized, but later I wanted to involve Sidhu on the third day too. However, Rahulji and the chief ministter decided to address a press conference in Patiala and so Sidhu’s participation was deferred. Otherwise, he was willing to be part of the rally all through but I asked him to come only on the first day. There is also a feeling that making Sidhu come around is one task given to you as the Punjab incharge. Any thoughts? It is not true that I have been especially sent for this purpose. I have to ensure a strong organisational structure of the party. Cabinet minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has said that he felt hurt at the way Sidhu reacted to him on the stage in Moga and said the AICC should take note. Are you looking into the matter? I don’t see anything wrong with what Sidhu said. Sidhu only said that he wanted to continue speaking while Randhawa wanted to hand over a slip that I had given him. My Punjabi isn’t that good so I got what Sidhu said analysed to ensure and there was nothing offensive in his language. That is his trademark style. Sidhu greeted the chief minister and even mentioned him (in his speech). Your statement about unsatisfactory party organisational structure in Punjab has fueled speculation about Jakhar’s possible replacement? Will you like to clarify? I only said that the existing organisational structure in the state needed to be strengthened. District and state-level Congress committees are yet to be constituted. Also, that we cannot keep relying on the disadvantages of the rival parties so that we win elections on our own strength. I never said that a change is in the offing. However, these two things have been taken pretty much out of context. There has been talk of Sidhu being rehabilitated as the PPCC chief. Is the post up for grabs? It is for the Congress president to pick the PCC chief. We can only give advice. But no such advice has been sought or given. Jakhar has done a good job with the way he organised (Rahul’s) the three-day event against the farm laws in the state. He is a hard-working Congress leader and has worked in various capacities in the organisational structure, doing quite well for himself.

The Times of India

2020-10-11

Chandigarh