Even as Opposition parties demanded Punjab Local government Navjot Singh Sidhu’s resignation over state government’s recommendation in the Supreme Court (SC) that he be convicted in the 1988 Patiala road rage case, the minister on Friday said that he will bear the burden on this on his own shoulders.
Speaking to reporters in Chandigarh, Sidhu said he has complete faith in SC while denying about to speak much more on this issue.
He, however, said that he would not like to point finger on anyone. “I am committed towards SC and have a full faith in the apex court,” the minister added.
Sidhu’s reaction came after the Punjab government sought the conviction of Sidhu in a 30-year-old case of road rage. The Punjab government counsel told the SC on Thursday submitted that the statement given by Sidhu denying his involvement in 1988 road rage case was false.
Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have sought Sidhu’s immediate resignation from the council of ministers following the state government’s endorsement of his conviction in a murder case.
Accusing the Congress government of playing a fixed match with Sidhu, the SAD demanded that the government must stop shielding the murder convict sitting amidst them in cabinet meetings.
“The continued presence of Sidhu in the Punjab cabinet is not only utterly untenable on moral grounds but is also a grave legal and constitutional absurdity, mocking the constitution of India. He cannot remain a member of a government which is seeking a judicial endorsement to punish him for murdering an old, innocent and helpless person. This has created the strangest situation in the history of independent India,” said Akali leader, Daljeet Singh Cheema said while addressing a Press conference.
As leader of Opposition, Sukhpal Singh Khaira has termed the Punjab government’s recommendation against Sidhu as targetting of the minister by his own government, SAD alleged Khaira and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were acting as a B team of the Congress.
“Even in the Assembly, Khaira acted as more loyal than the King and came to the help of the Congress government whenever we cornered it on issues of public interest. Similarly, in this case also, he is happy to be seen with Sidhu rather than the poor family that has lost an innocent member at his hands,” SAD alleged .
On his part, Khaira said that the state government is targeting its own leaders as they are being victimised for raising voice against Chief Minister (CM) Amarinder Singh.