Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Ludhiana, Former Amritsar MP and BJP’s star campaigner Navjot Singh Sidhu today gave a call to the people of Punjab to establish “lok raj (people’s rule)” in the state. Without naming any political party, Sidhu said: “When the entire Punjab unites, these people will scurry away.
Time has come to end their rule.” He was speaking at the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra programme in Ludhiana today.
Taking a dig at the state government’s slogan “Raj nahi sewa”, Sidhu alleged it was 90 per cent commercial gains (mewa) and 10 per cent service (sewa).
In Punjab, politics had been turned into a commercial venture, said the BJP leader. “We have to raise our voice against this. I am often told to speak cautiously. But I am not afraid of speaking the truth,” he said. In his characteristic style, Sidhu said: “Coward dies a thousand deaths, the brave die but once. He said all must take a pledge to root out corruption.” Sidhu said he had heard about threats to his life, but he would not bow to any pressure. Taking recourse to poetry and invoking history and mythology, the former MP said time had come to “fight a battle for the truth”. “Lord Krishna, in the Mahabharata, supported the righteous. Now, the people of Punjab should stand for the truth.” Using exhortations like “pagri sambhal jatta”, Sidhu said “rashtriya dharma” was most important. The best way to repay one’s debt to one’s land is by supporting the just and the righteous.
Initially, Sidhu spoke in Hindi. Later, he switched to Punjabi. Some people in the gathering reportedly raised slogans referring to Sidhu as the “next Chief Minister of Punjab”.
