CM Amarinder Singh Wants Navjot Sidhu To Publicly Apologise For ‘Derogatory’ Statements: Report

Chandigarh: Amid the speculation of Navjot Singh Sidhu becoming the new state Congress chief, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh met Congress state in-charge Harish Rawat on Saturday and reportedly told him that he won’t meet Sidhu until the latter apologises for his ‘derogatory’ tweets.

Amarinder Singh had said he would accept any decision taken by interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi, calling the meeting fruitful and added that Rawat will take up the issues raised by him to Sonia Gandhi.

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After the hour-long meeting, CM Amarinder Singh’s media advisor Raveen Thukral tweeted a statement by the CM that read: “Had a fruitful meeting with Harish Rawat. Reiterated that any decision of INC India President will be acceptable to all. Raised certain issues which he said he’ll take up with INC India president.”

“I have just returned to Delhi after meeting Amarinder Singh Ji. I am glad that a lot of the things that are being discussed have been proven pointless and Captain Sahib has reiterated his important statement that any decision taken by the Congress president will be acceptable to all,” Rawat wrote in a tweet.

Congress state in-charge Harish Rawat was said to have come to Chandigarh to meet Amarinder Singh, ahead of the official announcement of Sidhu’s appointment as the state unit chief.

However, a senior Congress leader cited by news agency IANS said that CM Amarinder Singh remained adamant as he is reportedly upset with Sidhu for targeting his government over the power crisis and the sacrilege issue. He is said to have categorically told Rawat that there would be no rapprochement between the two until Sidhu apologises in public for his “derogatory tweets and interviews”.

Reportedly, Rawat apprised the Chief Minister about the part’s decision to have three to four working presidents of his choice along with Sidhu. Capt Amarinder would also be free to revamp his Cabinet and an announcement in this regard could be made anytime, he was told.

On Friday, Capt Amarinder Singh had written to interim president Sonia Gandhi, raising concerns of Congress Punjab unit seeing split if Sidhu is given charge as president.

In his letter, the Chief Minister had stated that he would not contest election under Sidhu if he is elevated to the top organisational post in the state.