As cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Sidhu fired his first salvo at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) saying Arvind Kejriwal wanted to use him as a “piece of decoration” during elections, AAP’s Punjab co-incharge Sanjay Singh, in an interview to HT in Ludhiana on Thursday, said Sidhu is not speaking the truth as he (Sidhu) had himself said he is not selfish to contest from his wife’s seat and would campaign for the party in the entire state.
Sidhu has accused the AAP of trying of give him a raw deal?
Sanjay: I am surprised by his U-turn. I had a direct discussion with Sidhu and he had said he would join us in Punjab’s interests. He said it is a fight between ‘dharm’ and ‘adharm’ (good versus evil) and he wants to uproot the corrupt Badals. I still cannot forget what he then said. I quote him, “Mujhe Mahdev ka adesh ho gaya hai. Mein AAP ke saath Punjab ke liye laruga (I have been ordered by God Mahadev. I will fight alongside AAP to save Punjab)”.
What was the deal offered to him?
The AAP is not a mall that it would offer a deal or a discount on its policies. He was only told about the policy of “one family, one-ticket” rule. Sidhu had then said he is not so selfish that he would contest from his wife’s seat. He said his wife would contest elections and he would campaign for the AAP across the state. He is not saying the truth.
Did he ask for being made party’s CM face, or was offered to be one?
To be fair to him, neither did he once ask for being made the CM face of the party in Punjab nor was it offered. He did talk to us once again (after Arvind Kejriwal came back from his Vipassana meditation centre in Himachal) on what have we thought about him, and we told him all of that has already been discussed.
Why is the AAP worried over the fourth front?
The AAP is not worried. We are only gaining ground in Punjab. Our rallies are only getting bigger. The nervousness being betrayed by our rival parties is the proof. But it is for Sidhu to answer who is he trying to benefit by forming a fourth front. Even a child will not believe that a party being formed a few months before elections has any commitment. It will only lead to division of votes and vitiate the environment of the state before elections. Instead of attacking the Badals and their mafia raj, Sidhu is busy attacking the AAP and helping them.