New PPCC chief Navjot Sidhu calls for ‘haq-sach di ladai’ at Khatkar Kalan

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Nawanshahr, July 20

Two days after being appointed the PPCC president, Navjot Singh Sidhu paid obeisance at the memorial site of Bhagat Singh at his ancestral village Khatkar Kalan around noon on Tuesday.

Sidhu was reportedly accompanied by working president Kuljit Nagra and six other MLAs - Angad Saini, Darshan S Mangupur, Rajkumar Verka, Sukhpal Bhullar, Inderbir Singh Bolaria and Gurpreet GP.

Youth Congress leader Barinder Dhillon, ex-MLA Tarlochan Soondh and Lalli Majithia also came along.

The convoy of Congress leaders started from Chandigarh to head towards Amritsar, Sidhu’s home constituency.

Also read: Navjot Singh Sidhu receives warm welcome in Amritsar; several senior leaders conspicuous by their absence

Sidhu raised slogans, ‘Shaheedo teri soch te, pehra deyange thok ke’ at the memorial.

Since it was raining heavily when the PPCC chief reached the site, he got drenched. Clad in a purple kurta pyjama and turban, he addressed the media at the site saying, “I have come here to seek the directions from the land of the martyr. I wish all Punjabis take strength from Bhagat Singh and set out on 'haq ate sach di ladai'. Every Punjabi must consider himself to be a stakeholder in the ongoing quest to regain prosperity for the state."

Hours before Sidhu was to reach the venue, farmers representing Doaba Kisan Union gathered in large numbers at the memorial. The farmers said they had come to tell him that he should not make false promises about Punjab at the site.

They also alleged that Sidhu had not supported their ongoing agitation so far.

High security arrangements had to be made to ensure safety of the political leaders. Since the farmers could not catch up with Sidhu, they blocked the Phagwara-Nawanshahr highway for some time to lodge their protest.

Ahead of Sidhu’s visit, the scenes of Congress infighting surfaced. Congress workers from Banga who are in support and defiance of Sidhu came across each other and indulged in pro- and anti-Sidhu sloganeering.

Sidhu gets injury in foot

Navjot Sidhu got hurt during his visit to Khatkar Kalan.

He had removed his shoes to pay respects at the statue and was walking barefoot to address the media, when the nail of his toe came off. The party leaders standing next to him said he bled profusely but he carried on.

He was later provided bandage in the car.