Punjab: After refusing new ministry, Sidhu kept out of advisory-panels
What's the story
Amid rift with Punjab CM Amarinder Singh, Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has been kept out of eight consultative groups of the state government formed to expedite implementation of schemes.
Sidhu was stripped of his Local Government portfolio and given the Power and New and Renewable Energy Sources portfolio in a recent Cabinet rejig. However, Sidhu reportedly refused to assume the new post.
Here's more.
Information
Sidhu, Navjot Kaur accused Amarinder of denying her Chandigarh ticket
A fresh series of attacks between both the sides erupted after Sidhu and his wife and Congress leader Navjot Kaur attacked Captain Amarinder Singh, alleging that the Punjab CM was responsible for denying her ticket from the Chandigarh Lok Sabha constituency.
Attacks
Sidhu targeted CM Amarinder even during the recent election campaign
Even during the election campaign, Sidhu attacked Amarinder, questioning why no criminal case was filed against former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir over the 2015 Guru Granth Sahib Sacrilege and police-firing incidents.
"If he (Sidhu) was a real Congressman, he should have chosen a better time to air his grievances instead of just ahead of voting in Punjab," Amarinder responded.
'Singled out'
Amarinder blamed Sidhu for Congress's poor performance in Bathinda
Though the Congress won eight of Punjab's 13 Lok Sabha seats in the recent elections, CM Amarinder said the party could have performed better in urban areas.
He reportedly said Sidhu's remarks on Pakistan and the ongoing Guru Granth Sahib Sacrilege investigation may have led to Congress's defeat in Bathinda.
However, Sidhu responded he was unfairly being singled out for the party's poor performance.
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Been singled out in spite of collective responsibility: Sidhu
Before being stripped of Local Government portfolio, Sidhu notably skipped a crucial Cabinet meeting and instead chose to have a Facebook Live session for media. "I cannot be taken for granted...I have been singled out in spite of collective responsibility," he said at the time.