CM backs Sidhu, says his intent not anti-national

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 18

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder on Monday came to the rescue of Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu saying his intention were surely not anti-national, but he has to explain his stand on the issue.

He slammed the SAD for disrupting the House proceedings during the presentation of the Budget by targeting Sidhu.

“Sidhu is a cricketer and I am a soldier. We have different viewpoints,” he said, but added that the minister must have realised that he had gone overboard with his Pakistan visit.

The Chief Minister further said Sidhu did not understand defence intricacies and had possibly reacted out of friendly motive. The minister’s intentions were surely not anti-national and he must have got the message, he added.

'ACT AGAINSTPAK'

On tackling Pakistan-backed terror, the CM advocated “an eye for an eye”. He said, “We should get 82 of them since 41 of our men have been killed.” He said the country was fed up with the senseless killings of Indian soldiers every day. He suggested tough action against Pakistan, be it military, diplomatic or economic, or a combination of all three.

Book Navjot: Badal

Former CM Parkash Singh Badal said a case should be registered against Sidhu for his “pro-Pakistan” stance. Badal said the Congress should expel Sidhu and a case be registered against him for “betraying the nation”. On Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s visit to Pakistan for the stone-laying of Kartarpur corridor, he said, “It was a different issue”.