chandigarh:
Bhagwant Mann is not arrogant and is open to the point of view of others, Congresswoman Navjot Sidhu said today after meeting the Punjab Chief Minister. After the 50-minute meeting, Mr Sidhu took a dive into Congress and the Akalis, saying the previous prime ministers had no time for their own MLAs and senior leaders.
Earlier today, Punjab minister Laljit Singh Bhullar had said Mr Mann would meet the cricketer turned politician who is no longer an MLA, MP or minister. After the elections, Mr Sidhu was even forced to resign as head of the state congress.
Mr Sidhu announced yesterday that he would meet with Mr Mann to discuss matters related to the revival of the state economy.
“I came here for the advancement of Punjab. What can I say about CM saab (Mann), he has no ego and arrogance. He is the same today as if he was 10-15 years ago and even six months back,” said Mr. Sidhu quoted. as said by Press Trust of India news agency. “He’s in as much pain as I am,” he’d added.
The meeting, Mr Sidhu said was “very positive” and later tweeted:
Most constructive 50 minutes spent… Reiterated the pro Punjab agenda I have been standing for for years… Speaking of means of monetization, it is the only solution to end the problem of Punjab… CM @BhagwantMann was very receptive… Assured that he will fulfill people’s aspirations… pic.twitter.com/BH77c1QFNX
— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) May 9, 2022
“If a person is receptive, you don’t feel the 50 minutes go by,” he said.
Topics discussed at the meeting included state revenues from the liquor and sand mining sector, the cable monopoly, irregularities in the tendering system and the alleged link between police, politicians and drug traffickers.
He said he had raised these issues during the previous administration of Congress. “I told him one thing that it is a matter of Punjab’s honor that should not be violated,” he said.
Since Congress’ crushing defeat in the recently concluded parliamentary elections, Mr Sidhu has been praising and denigrating Mr Mann in quick succession.
Last month, he had called the Chief Minister a “rubber doll” and accused him of being the mouthpiece of his Aam Aadmi Party bosses in Delhi. Two days later, he called the Chief Minister an “honest man” and said he would rise above party lines and support Mr Mann in any attempt to crack down on the mafia in the state.
