Navjot: Ready to face magisterial inquiry

GS Paul
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, October 20

Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, who along with Cabinet-minister husband Navjot Singh Sidhu is in the eye of the storm, today accused SAD-BJP leaders of distorting facts for political mileage and said she was ready to face the magisterial inquiry ordered by the Chief Minister into the train tragedy.

The former Amritsar-East MLA was the chief guest at the Dasehra festivity near the accident site, which falls in the constituency now represented by her husband. She is accused of delaying the programme by arriving late and subsequently fleeing the scene after the accident. 

Clarifying her stance, Dr Sidhu said: “I had six identical programmes to attend. This was the third on my schedule. I was late by just 10 minutes and stayed there for another 10 minutes, before proceeding for the next venue. Fifteen minutes later, I heard about this tragic incident. I immediately rang up the Police Commissioner, who dissuaded me from returning because of stone-pelting by an angry crowd. I cancelled my other programmes and straightaway went to the Civil Hospital to facilitate the relief operation,” she said.

Dr Sidhu blamed the railway authorities for not issuing directions regarding movement of trains near the venue. “The railway authorities should have issued directions to slow down trains near the venue,” she said.

On a video that has gone viral in which a supporter prior to Dr Sidhu’s address is heard announcing from the dais that scores of people standing “on the railway tracks” to listen to their “favourite” leader (Dr Sidhu) needn’t worry about trains, she said: “I had immediately asked the organisers to ask people to shift to a safer place. They made the announcement at least five times, but people did not adhere to it.”

“Chairs near the dais were empty but they preferred risking their lives by standing on the tracks and taking videos and selfies,” she said.

On the issue of mandatory permission not being taken for organising the event at the venue, Dr Sidhu said: “I am procuring relevant documents. As per my information, there is nothing of the sort.”