Sidhu skips party’s Amritsar protest over Lakhimpur killings

Amritsar, October 11

PPCC president Navjot Singh Sidhu could not make it to attend the ‘maun vrat’ (vow of silence) that was observed nationwide by the Congress to protest the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

Since Sidhu was already away to Mata Vaishno Devi in Katra, he could not board the flight reportedly due to bad weather and therefore missed the ‘maun vrat’ programme in Amritsar.

Nonetheless, the party was unanimous in its demand for the dismissal of the Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra, whose son Ashish Mishra was arrested in connection with the incident, for a free and fair investigation.

Amid scorching heat, the ‘maun vrat’ scheduled at the Amritsar Railway Station premises between 1 pm and 3 pm could not last long. Sheer lack of enthusiasm was witnessed among Congress men due to the absence of Sidhu.

As the message about Sidhu’s inability was conveyed, workers started leaving the ‘pandal’. PPCC working president Sukhwinder Singh Danny Bandala however remained there till the last minute. The objective of ‘maun vrat’ was defeated as leaders could be seen either attending to the calls or welcoming the leaders. Some leaders did not refrain from giving bytes to the media.

MLA South Inderbir Bolaria said not Sidhu’s absence shouldn’t be seen politically. “It should not be given a political colour. Due to unavoidable circumstances, Sidhu could not come but we all were there on behalf of our party president,” he said.

All three Amritsar-based Cabinet ministers — OP Soni, Raj Kumar Verka and Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria — and MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla spared time for the event. Among those present on the occasion included Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu, Amritsar Urban president Jatinder Sonia and Amritsar Improvement Trust newly appointed chairman Damandeep Singh Uppal. — TNS

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