Amritsar: The much touted `home coming’ of controversial BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu who turned out to be damp squib as he found the party vertically divided.
No senior leaders from the party came to receive him at the airport though his wife Dr. Navjot Kaur had been talking of `grand reception’ for him as he was arriving to the constituency after the gap of 10 months, only handful of his supporters welcomed him home.
So upset was he from the empty chairs that greeted him at the circuit house where he was to address the rally that he came and saw the crowed missing and went away to his residence without making any public address.
Senior BJP leaders including state BJP chief Kamal Sharma, Cabinet Minister Anil Joshi, State Vice President Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, general secretary Tarun Chugh, Youth BJP district head Avinash Shala, MLAs, party’s office bearers or city councilors were conspicuous by their absence.
Only local Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora and district chief Naresh were present and Sidhu was visibly upset over the utter disregard the party accorded to him. Talking to the media persons he said he has lot to speak but was waiting for the right opportunity to open his mouth.
Asked about his prolong absence from the constituency, he said he has to work to earn his livelihood as he does not indulge in ill-practices to make money. ``Even our leaders like Arun Jaitley is Advocate and he works, even Sukhbir Badal is basically a businessman. They work along with the politics. What wrong I have done if I work for TV or Cricket to earn money?’’, asked he.
None of the senior BJP leaders who were absent was available for the comments. Though it has been touted as if Sidhu has grudge against the party leadership, from today’s episode it is clear that they too have strong grudges against him.
Apart from the party, even the alliance partner SAD (B) gave him a cold shoulder as no Akali leader or worker was available to receive him. SAD (B) Urban chief Upkar Singh Sandhu against whom, Sidhu’s wife Dr.Navjot Kaur Sidhu had openly used `derogatory remarks’ said that Sidhu couple had been fooling around.