Stop politics over soldiers’ bodies, says Sidhu

Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, February 17

Under fire from the BJP on his statement after the Pulwama terror attack, Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu today while strongly condemning the Pulwama attack, took a jibe while questioning who freed terrorists 20 years ago.

On a state-wide fund-declaration spree ahead of the elections, Sidhu announced projects worth over Rs 145 crore for Hoshiarpur (Rs 101 cr) and Nawanshahr (Rs 45 crore) during his visits to Hoshiapur, Balachaur and Rahom today. Sidhu also made declaration for spending of Rs 550 crore for the upgrade the fire brigade services in the state.

Sidhu had been under condemnation for his statement ‘whether an entire nation could be blamed for a handful of people’ after the gruesome Pulwama attack. Calling for strong action against the perpetrators of the attack, Sidhu questioned the freeing of terrorists 20 years ago (referring to the freeing of three hardcore terrorists Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and Maulana Masood Azhar following the 1999 Indian airlines hijack in exchange for 155 passengers by the then NDA government).

Addressing a crowd at Dana Mandi in Balachaur, Sidhu said, “The entire country stands against those who have committed a crime. Sidhu also stands with you against this crime. The perpetrators should be punished in such a manner that their five generations tremble at the thought of committing such an act. But I also want to ask those who are raising fingers at me, 20 saal pehlan enhnan nu kaun chad ke aaya si? (who freed them (terrorists) 20 years ago?). I would only ask that politics over the bodies of our soldiers needs to stop.”

Addressing the gathering at the the zila parishad ground in Hoshiarpur, accompanied by Industries Minister, Punjab, Sunder Sham Arora, Sidhu said Rs 5,000 crore would be spent for the development of cities by the state government and Rs 550 crore to improve fire brigade services in the state.

Meanwhile, flanked by Balachaur MLA Chaudhary Darshan Lal and Nawanshahr MLA Angad Singh in Nawanshahr, Sidhu announced a total grant of Rs 45 crore for Nanwanshahr — Rs 23 crore for Balachaur, Rs 13 cr for Nawanshahr and Rs 9 crore for Rahon.

Protesters of the BJP Yuva Morcha (BJYM) holding black flag protests against Sidhu ahead of his address at Hoshiarpur were detained by the police here today. The protest was being led by Nitin Gupta, vice-president, state BJYM, and Ranjit Singh Rana, district president.

The protesting activists were detained by the police before they could reach the venue of Sidhu’s address. They were later freed by the police. The BJYM leaders condemned statements made by Sidhu in the wake of Pulwama attacks and sought that he be booked on the charges of sedition for his comments. Congress workers also held a counter dharna outside the Zila parishad Hoshiarpur office against the BJP, resenting its protest. It was led by Congress Sewa Dal activist Pankaj Kripal.