The ongoing crisis in Punjab deepened today with Navjot Singh Sidhu's surprise resignation as the chief of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. "I told you so... he is not a stable man and not fit for the border state of Punjab," said Amarinder Singh, the former Chief Minister, shortly after. Punjab cabinet minister Razia Sultana also quit hours later "in solidarity with Navjot Sidhu".
The resignations came just months before the Punjab election.
Mr Sidhu, in a letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, said he will continue to serve the party. He had taken over as the state party chief in July this year.
"The collapse of a man's character stems from the compromise corner, I can never compromise on Punjab's future and the agenda for the welfare of Punjab," he wrote in the letter.
Meanwhile, Amarinder Singh is presently in Delhi, days after his unceremonious exit from the government. His visit is "personal" and there is "no need for speculation", the former Punjab Chief Minister's media advisor tweeted today.
He had resigned amid a bitter power tussle with Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu. After resigning as Punjab chief minister, Amarinder Singh had said he felt “humiliated.”
Here are the Highlights on Punjab Congress Crisis:
"Mr Sidhu's fight is one of principles," Mr Dalla said. "People should understand that for any political party or elected representative, the prime issue is the issue of one's own state."
"He (Navjot Singh Sidhu) had taken stand against corruption in Punjab..., if his suggestions are not paid heed to, he would not want to be a speechless president. We urge him to withdraw resignation and request high command to redress his grievances," said Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira.
Former Punjab Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Captain Amarinder Singh who arrived in the national capital on Tuesday said that he has come to Delhi to vacate Kapurthala House, further clarifying that he is not going to meet any politician during his visit.
Speaking to reporters at the Delhi airport, Mr Singh said, "I am here to vacate Kapurthala House (the official residence of Punjab Chief Minister in New Delhi). I am not going to meet any politician here."
Gulzar Inder Chahal on Tuesday resigned as Treasurer of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) following the resignation of the party's state unit chief Navjot Singh Sidhu.
Mr Chahal who was appointed as the Treasurer of PPCC on September 21, submitted his resignation to the Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi.
"I hereby resign as the Treasurer of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee with immediate effect," stated Chahal in his resignation letter.
While Mr Sidhu in his letter stated, "The collapse of a man's character stems from the compromise corner, I can never compromise on Punjab's future and the agenda for the welfare of Punjab. Therefore, I hereby resign as the President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. Will continue to serve the Congress."
Merely two days after she took oath of office as a cabinet minister in the Punjab government, Malerkotla MLA Razia Sultana today resigned "in solidarity with Navjot Singh Sidhu", who stepped down as the state Congress President earlier in the day.
Former Punjab Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Captain Amarinder Singh who arrived in the national capital on Tuesday said that he has come to Delhi to vacate Kapurthala House, further clarifying that he is not going to meet any politician during his visit.
Speaking to reporters at the Delhi airport, Mr Singh said, "I am here to vacate Kapurthala House (the official residence of Punjab Chief Minister in New Delhi). I am not going to meet any politician."
Further responding to a question on Punjab Congress Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu's resignation today, the former Chief Minister said, "This man (Navjot Singh Sidhu) is unstable."
Shortly after Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned from the post of Punjab Congress President, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Raghav Chaddha said that ''selfish leaders'' of Congress are incompetent in running ''stable, progressive, inclusive'' administration in Punjab.
Mr Chaddha tweeted, "Complete and absolute state of anarchy in Punjab Congress. How can the people of Punjab expect these selfish leaders to give a stable, progressive and inclusive administration?"
"How can these people be trusted with a state which has 550km border with Pakistan?" he tweeted.
Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi declared Tuesday that he would "lead the people of Punjab to Delhi" and sit outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence to support the farmers' protest against the centre's controversial farm laws.
The declaration has been seen as significant given that opposition parties in Punjab had repeatedly criticised the ruling Congress over his predecessor - Amarinder Singh - not doing something similar.
This man (Navjot Singh Sidhu) is unstable... I am here to vacate Kapurthala House, the residence of Punjab CM in New Delhi. I am not going to meet any politician here: Former Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh in Delhi pic.twitter.com/LNKyRUgaWm
- ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2021
#WATCH | Former Punjab CM and senior Congress leader Captain Amarinder Singh reaches Delhi amid resignations by Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu and treasurer Gulzar Inder Chahal pic.twitter.com/Lx2bXfejwC
- ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2021
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi On Tuesday said that he has full confidence and faith in Navjot Singh Sidhu, who resigned as state Congress chief a few hours ago, reported news agency ANI.
"I have full confidence and faith in (Navjot Singh) Sidhu Sahab," Mr Channi said while addressing a press conference today.
Mr Sidhu in his resignation letter to party's interim president Sonia Gandhi said, "The collapse of a man''s character stems from the compromise corner, I can never compromise on Punjab''s future and the agenda for the welfare of Punjab. Therefore, I hereby resign as the President of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. Will continue to serve the Congress."
Meanwhile, Mr Channi, who addressed the media after Mr Sidhu stepped down from his post said that he had "no information" over the matter.
Navjot Singh Sidhu has quit as Punjab Congress chief just two months after he was appointed to the post by the party's high command in Delhi. Mr Sidhu's unexpected move to resign from the post has stunned the Congress.
Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned as he must have felt sidelined, said BJP's Ashwini Sharma on his resignation as Punjab Congress chief. Mr Sidhu's resignation comes just months ahead of the state elections.
Soon after Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned from the post of Punjab Congress President, former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said that Mr Sidhu is unstable and unfit for the state of Punjab.
"I told you so...he is not a stable man and not fit for the border state of Punjab," said Captain Amarinder Singh in a tweet.
The former Punjab Chief Minister and senior Congress leader's remarks came as Mr Sidhu on Tuesday resigned as the chief of the Punjab Unit of the Congress.
"It will be settled if he is upset...though he is not upset with me," said Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Sigh Channi on Navjot Singh Sidhu being upset over bureaucratic set up and his commands not being followed after cabinet expansion in Punjab, reported news agency ANI.
The resignation, months before the Punjab election, has shocked the Congress leadership and is seen as a huge blow, given that the Gandhis were warned about appointing Mr Sidhu as Punjab Congress chief. It was Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who had pushed for Mr Sidhu, against all odds.
Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are yet to reach Delhi after their visit to Shimla.
#WATCH | Former Punjab CM and senior Congress leader Captain Amarinder Singh arrives at Chandigarh airport to leave for Delhi. pic.twitter.com/tgfoiOHyqv
- ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2021
The Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday claimed that Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu quit from his post as he ''could not bear" that a Dalit has been made the chief minister of the state.
#WATCH | Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were seen at Chandigarh International Airport on their way to New Delhi from Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
- ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2021
Former Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh is also reaching Delhi from Chandigarh pic.twitter.com/VYaiK9f2JP
Complete and absolute state of anarchy in Punjab Congress. How can the people of Punjab expect these selfish leaders to give a stable, progressive and inclusive administration? How can these people be trusted with a state which has 550km border with Pakistan?
- Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) September 28, 2021
Navjot Singh Sidhu resigns as Punjab Congress Chief. pic.twitter.com/NTg9rkOQnY
- NDTV (@ndtv) September 28, 2021
Shortly after Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned as Punjab Congress chief, his rival Amarinder Singh delivered the first taunt to the party leadership. "I told you so... he is not a stable man and not fit for the border state of Punjab," the former Chief Minister tweeted.
Amarinder Singh's Delhi visit is "personal" and there is "no need for speculation", the former Punjab Chief Minister's media advisor tweeted today, after buzz he was set to meet BJP chief JP Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Navjot Singh Sidhu has resigned as Punjab Congress chief, in a stunning development just days after Amarinder Singh was replaced as Chief Minister in a series of events that had his approval.
The resignation, months before the Punjab election, has shocked the Congress leadership and is seen as a huge blow, given that the Gandhis were warned about appointing Mr Sidhu as Punjab Congress chief. It was Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who had pushed for Mr Sidhu, against all odds.