Navjot Singh Sidhu had said Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has invited him for talks. (File)
Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, in an exclusive interview to NDTV, said he is not joining the BJP, but won't stay in the Congress either. "I have not resigned from the Congress yet, but how can one continue in a place where there is a trust deficit," he said.
His remark came after he met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval this morning, a day after his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah amid speculations about him joining the BJP.
Meanwhile, Navjot Singh Sidhu said Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi met at Punjab Bhawan in Chandigarh. Mr Sidhu, who resigned as Punjab Congress chief on Tuesday, delivering a big shock to the Gandhis, had said Mr Channi invited him for talks.
Mr Singh, who recently stepped down from chief minister's post in Punjab, said that during his meeting with Mr Shah he discussed the contentious farm laws and urged the Home Minister to repeal the laws and guarantee MSP. The Congress has reached out to Mr Singh and senior leaders Ambika Soni and Kamal Nath are trying to pacify him, according to sources.
Mr Sidhu, in a video message tweeted on Wednesday morning, had said that he will not compromise on ethics and would "fight for truth until my last breath."
On Thursday, his advisor Mohammad Mustafa told NDTV that the issue will be resolved and Mr Sidhu will remain Punjab Congress chief and lead the party to the next elections.
Here are the LIVE updates on Punjab Congress Crisis:
Punjab Chief Minister's Convoy Leaves After Meeting With Navjot Sidhu
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi's convoy leaves Punjab Bhawan in Chandigarh after meeting with Navjot Singh Sidhu.
Navjot Sidhu Arrives For Meeting With Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Channi
Navjot Singh Sidhu has arrived for his meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi at Punjab Bhawan, Chandigarh.
Amarinder Singh Drops "Congress" From Twitter BioFormer Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has dropped "Congress" from his Twitter bio. Speaking to NDTV earlier in the day, he said he has made his stand clear to the Congress that he will not be treated "in this manner". "I have not resigned from the Congress yet, but how can one continue in a place where there is a trust deficit," he said.
Amarinder Singh On Why He Met National Security Adviser Ajit Doval Today
On meeting National Security Adviser Ajit Doval this morning, Amarinder Singh to NDTV: "I keep meeting the NSA on national security issues. Punjab is a border state with Pakistan and we have seen an increase in drones infiltrating Indian territory. Drugs, narcotics, arms and ammunition are being sent across the border and we have been monitoring it. We want to know that the drones that we do not get a hold of, where do they go. These days we see that even tiffin boxes of children are being sent with RDX in it. I may not be the Chief Minister at present but all these are pressing issues and merits me meeting the National Security Adviser.
Navjot Singh Sidhu Is Immature, Not Team Player: Amarinder Singh To NDTVAmarinder Singh Sidhu to NDTV: "(Navjot Singh) Sidhu is an immature person. I have said this repeatedly that he is not a stable man. He is not a team player. He is a loner. How will he handle the Punjab Congress as its chief? For that you need to be a team player, which (Mr) Sidhu is not. I have been a PCC (Pradesh Congress Committee) chief thrice, I can say this with certainty that if you are not a team player, you cannot be the PCC chief."
"When There Is No Trust...": Amarinder Singh Speaks Exclusive To NDTVIn an exclusive interview to NDTV, former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh says: "I have made my stand very clear to the Congress that I will not be treated in this manner. I will not stand for it. I have not resigned from the Congress yet, but how can one continue in a place where there is a trust deficit. I have made my stand clear. When there is no trust, one cannot continue. I am not joining the BJP."
Amid Turmoil, Navjot Sidhu To Meet Chief Minister Charanjit Channi At 3 PM Today
Navjot Singh Sidhu, who recently resigned from the post of Punjab Congress chief, said Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has invited him for talks. He said in a tweet that he will reach Punjab Bhawan in Chandigarh at 3 PM today to meet him. "He (Mr Channi) is welcome for any discussions," said Mr Sidhu.
After Meeting With Amarinder Singh, NSA Ajit Doval Meets Amit ShahNational Security Advisor Ajit Doval is now holding a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah after the former met Congress veteran Amarinder Singh this morning. Mr Singh, who is the former Punjab chief minister, had met Mr Shah a day earlier.
Amarinder Singh Meets NSA Ajit Doval, Day After Meeting Amit Shah Congress' Ambika Soni, Kamal Nath Trying To Pacify Amarinder Singh: SourcesThe Congress, facing a turmoil in its Punjab unit, has reached out to former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh after he met Union Home Minister Amit Shah yesterday, according to sources. Senior Congress leaders Ambika Soni and Kamal Nath are trying to pacify Amarinder Singh, the sources said.
"Acts Emotionally At Times": Adviser Says Navjot Sidhu To Remain Punjab Congress ChiefNavjot Singh Sidhu, who had resigned as the Punjab Congress chief on Tuesday, will continue in the top post and lead the party to the next elections, said an adviser to the Congress leader. "The issue will be resolved soon," said adviser
Mohammad Mustafa.
He said that Mr Sidhu is not beyond the Congress leadership. He is not (former chief minister) Amarinder Singh who never cared for Congress and its leadership, said Mr Mustafa, adding that the Mr Sidhu "acts emotionally at times" and the Congress leadership understands.
Congress Leader Anand Sharma Slams "Hooliganism" Outside Kapil Sibal's HouseSenior Congress leader Anand Sharma on Thursday expressed disgust over party workers' protest outside Kapil Sibal's house after he raised questions over the functioning of the Congress in wake of the turmoil in the party's Punjab Unit.
Mr Sharma, who along with Mr Sibal is among the "Group of 23" which had last year sought an organisational overhaul in the party, said intolerance and violence is alien to the Congress values and culture. He asked All India Congress Committee chief Sonia Gandhi to take strong action against those involved.
"Shocked and disgusted to hear the news of attack and hooliganism at Kapil Sibal's house. This deplorable action brings disrepute to the party and needs to be strongly condemned," Mr Sharma said in a series of tweets. He asserted that the Congress has a history of upholding freedom of expression.
Hours after raising questions over the functioning of Congress, Mr Sibal on Wednesday came under attack from several quarters with party workers also protesting outside his house in . He has demanded that an immediate meeting of the Congress Working Committee be convened and wondered who in the party was taking decisions in the absence of a full-time president.
"Arrogance Of Power": What Congress Said On Captain-Amit Shah MeetingThe Congress lashed out at Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday evening shortly after his meeting with former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh that came as the biggest political development of the day. Amit Shah, the party said, is furious that a Dalit has been chosen as Chief Minister and is keen on revenge on Punjab. Of Mr Singh -- who stepped down from the post of Punjab Chief Minister earlier this month after a long and bitter feud with a section of his MLAs -- nothing overt was said.