Navjot Singh
Sidhu, the cricketer-turned-politician who resigned as the Punjab Congress
chief on Tuesday, tweeted out a video a day after tendering his resignation. In
the video, the Congress leader who was only recently elevated to the position
of Punjab Pradesh Congress President listed the reasons for giving up the top
post.

“No personal rivalry
with anyone; 17 years of my political career has been for a purpose, to make
difference, to take a stand and to make people’s lives better. This is my only
religion…,” Navjot Singh Sidhu said in the video.

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“I can’t compromise with my ethics, moral authority. What I witness is a compromise with issues, agenda in Punjab. I can’t disguise high command nor can I let them be disguised,” said Navjot Sidhu in Punjabi according to a translation by ANI. 

Sidhu further said that he fought for issues concerning Punjab for a long time and that there was a system of tainted leaders, officers. “Now you cannot repeat the same system again…I will stand by my principles.”

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It was Navjot Singh Sidhu who largely set the scene for Amarinder Singh’s exit as the Punjab chief minister. Punjab’s new CM Charanjit Singh Channi was reported to have a good rapport with Sidhu. However, Sidhu was unhappy with Channi’s cabinet appointments. 

Also Read | Three possible reasons why Navjot Singh Sidhu tendered his resignation

According to an NDTV report, Navjot Singh Sidhu was unhappy with the inclusion of Rana Gurjit Singh in the cabinet. Rana Gurjit Singh was accused of being involved in a land mining scam and had to quit the Amarinder Singh cabinet in 2018. Navjot Sidhu’s barb at ‘tainted leaders’ seems to have been directed at Gurjit Singh. 

Further, Navjot Sidhu was reportedly also against the home ministry being assigned to Deputy Chief Minister SS Randhawa, considered Sidhu’s political rival. He had earlier opposed any talk of elevating Radhawa to the chief minister’s position following Amarinder Singh’s resignation. 

Amarinder Singh, the former chief minister who was almost forced out of the post apparently by Sidhu’s political maneuvers, called Sidhu a “shifty character” on Wednesday. “That’s what his real character is. I’ve known this boy since childhood and he has been a loner and can never be a team player,” NDTV quoted Captain Amarinder Singh as saying. 

Right after Navjot Sidhu’s resignation, Amarinder Singh had tweeted, “I told you so…he is not a stable man and not fit for the border state of Punjab.”