Farmers Movement Archive

Amarinder Singh says he will leave Congress but won't join BJP

Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday said he won't be staying with the Congress, but dismissed speculations of joining the BJP, a day after he met Union home minister Amit Shah at Shah's residence in New Delhi. The former Punjab chief minister was speaking to a television channel as he said, "So far, I am in the Congress but I will not remain in the Congress. I will not be treated in this manner." Later, his office issued a statement regarding this. Amarinder Singh's media advisor Raveen Thukral also tweeted the interview clippings on his social media handle. On the question of floating a new party, Amarinder Singh said time will tell what will happen. "So you are neither in Congress nor in BJP?" Amarinder Singh was asked. "I have not resigned from the Congress yet but I will resign. I am not one of those who decide on a split second. One has to think of various pros and cons before making a decision. But I can tell you I am not going to stay with the Congress. I am not going to join BJP also," Amarinder Singh said.This is the first time that Amarinder Singh talked about leaving the party. His resignation from the post of Punjab chief minister with a few months left for the election was bitter as he said how insulted and humiliated he felt by the treatment of the party high command. However, he never specifically spoke of leaving the party, though he had said he would oppose Navjot Sidhu as the chief minister by fielding a strong candidate against him. Amid speculations of Amarinder Singh's next political move, the Captain met Union home minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday. Later, Amarinder Singh said that he urged Amit Shah to repeal the three contentious farm laws.On Thursday, Amarinder Singh met national security advisor Ajit Doval possibly to discuss the security issues of Punjab, the bordering state. Earlier, Amarinder Singh had said Navjot Singh Sidhu is a threat to India's national security because of his closeness with Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.Amarinder Singh's association with the Congress goes a long way as he was brought into the party by the late Rajiv Gandhi. He was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1980 and resigned from the Congress as a protest during Operation Blue Star. He had formed a splinter group breaking away from the Akali Dal and his outfit merged with the Congress in 1998. After resigning from the chief minister's post, Amarinder Singh often talked about his connection with the Congress and said Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are like his children and they are being misled regarding Punjab. In the interview with NDTV, Amarinder Singh again slammed Navjot Singh Sidhu and said he is an entertainer while the job of the Punjab Congress chief is a serious one.  The Captain, however, is confident about new chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi. "Channi can do a good job but that fellow (Sidhu) needs to allow him to do his work," Amarinder Singh told NDTV.Amarinder Singh on CongressA day after senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal questioned the Congress leadership over the present crisis of the party, Amarinder Singh said senior Congressmen are thinkers, critical to the future of the party.  The younger leadership should be promoted to implement the plans, which the senior leaders are best equipped to formulate, Amarinder Singh said. "Unfortunately, the seniors were being completely sidelined which is not good for the party," he said condemning the attack on Kapil Sibal’s house by Congress workers hours after he said G-23 is not 'Ji Huzoor 23'.

Hindustan Times

30-09-2021

India