‘I will not spare anyone': Sidhu warns Gandhis | Economic Times

The Gandhis’ recent game plan to unleash Navjot Singh Sidhu as PPCC chief on chief minister Amarinder Singh turned into a tragic comedy. After the CM’s pressure forced the high command to rein in the Punjab unit chief and oust his advisor, Sidhu on Friday threatened the Gandhis-led high command.“I cannot be a dummy chief who is not allowed to take decisions,” Sidhu told his supporters, gesticulating aggressively, at a function in Amritsar. In a reverse-sweep at the Gandhis, the ex-cricketer said, “I have asked the high command to allow me to take decisions and I will ensure that the Congress prospers in the state for the next two decades. If not, I will not spare anyone.”Sidhu’s threat has not evoked a comment or tweet from Priyanka Vadra, who foisted Sidhu as PPCC chief. The Sonia-Rahul duo who seconded her move too has not reacted. However, some Congress leaders said that allowing Sidhu to continue as PPCC chief would make a joke of the Congress leadership.Sources said the change in AICC attitude to rein in Sidhu and his advisors and advertise that Amarinder Singh will be the Congress captain in assembly polls came after the CM conveyed to the leadership unambiguously — after Sidhu camp called for the CM’s removal — that he would not ‘stomach anymore insults’ and that he and his supporters were confident of running the state government and fighting the elections without ‘inhouse burdens’. Prior to Sidhu’s elevation, some senior Congress leaders had warned Sonia Gandhi about the dangers of trying to bully a political heavyweight with a ‘flippant’ Sidhu and risking a split in Punjab Congress. With Sidhu done in, Singh’s support among Congress MLAS reached 70. The CM’s camp plans to write to Gandhi to declare Singh as the party’s CM face well ahead of the polls. AICC had clarified on Thursday that Singh would lead the party campaign for the next elections.Asked about Sidhu’s threat, AICC in-charge Harish Rawat said, “state chiefs have full powers. They can decide things within the party constitution and policies. I have to see in what context Sidhu said what he said. We have made it clear what Sidhu’s advisors said were not acceptable to the Congress.” Rawat also met Gandhi, briefed her about the Punjab situation and renewed his appeal to relieve him of the state’s charge as he needed to focus on leading the Congress’ electoral fight in Uttarakhand.Meanwhile, Sidhu’s advisor Malwinder Singh Mali, whom Rawat threatened to sack after the controversial comments on J&K and Pakistan, quit his post. However, his wording suggested he had dropped Sidhu. “I withdraw my consent given for tendering suggestions to Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu.” In a ‘warning’ to major leaders of Punjab he said, “in case of any harm against me, Captain Amarinder Singh, Punjab’s cabinet minister, Vijender Singh, Punjab’s MP Manish Tewari, Punjab’s former deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, former cabinet minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia and BJP’s Subhash Sharma, Aam Aadmi Party’s Raghav Chadha and Jarnail Singh will be responsible.