Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President, is among Congress' stalwart leaders and would be a key candidate of the grand old party in the forthcoming Punjab Assembly Elections 2022. He was born on October 20, 1963. Navjot Sidhu will be contesting election from Amritsar (East) constituency. Polling in Punjab will be held in one single phase on February 20. Navjot Singh Sidhu has been a professional cricketer and part of the Indian cricket team who retired from international cricket in 1999. Navjot Sidhu began his political innings with BJP and won the Lok Sabha election from the Amritsar seat in 2004. With many ups and downs during his tenure with BJP, Sidhu joined Congress in 2017 and since then has been part of the party. For over two years now, Sidhu has remained part of various controversies and in-party fighting. First, Sidhu was widely criticised for hugging Pakistan army chief and Imran Khan during the inauguration ceremony of Kartarpur Corridor while post that Sidhu has remained surrounded with in-party fighting in the Punjab unit of Congress. Sidhu upped the ante against former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh in the quest to push himself for the top job in the state. Though, the Congress party did not elevate him as Chief Minister of state but made him the President of PPCC. In the upcoming assembly elections in Punjab, Sidhu who is being constantly attacked by several party leaders from Amarinder Singh's camp is expected to face a tough contest, both from within the party and opposition. Former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh at several public platforms has challenged Sidhu saying that he will not let Sidhu become the next chief minister of Punjab as the latter is a threat to national security due to his closeness with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and its Army Chief.
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Sidhu on Saturday had said he feels more comfortable in Pakistan than in South India.
After Mohammad Faisal’s statement, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) launched a scathing attack on Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and accused him of lying on this issue.
Kartarpur Sahib is the place where the founder of Sikh religion Guru Nanak Dev breathed his last. It is located 4 km across the India-Pakistan border.
Before the Lok Sabha elections 2019, the Congress party is trying to corner the government over the Rafale issue.
Sitharaman said that when a person of Sidhu’s stature hugs chief of Pakistani army it demoralises people of the country.
Calling Sidhu an 'agent' of Pakistan, she said that the cricketer-turned-politician was being used as a puppet by the neighbouring country.
Sidhu had alleged that the Parkash and his son-- former deputy chief minister of Punjab and SAD president-- had given orders to the police to open fire at protesters at Behbal Kalan in 2015 that led to the death of two people.
In 1999, a sessions court had acquitted Sidhu but the order was quashed by the high court, which convicted him. In 2006, HC awarded him a three-year jail term.
Sidhu, who was present at the swearing-in of his "friend" Imran Khan as the Pakistan Prime Minister on August 18 in Islamabad, has been claiming that he has been virtually instrumental in getting the Kartarpur corridor opened to devotees.
For the last several days, there had been media reports that Gen Bajwa was in favour of resuming dialogue with India, but his remark about "revenge" gives a totally different impression.
Welcoming the reports, Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu thanked his 'friend' Pakistan PM Imran Khan for the move. However, backtracked later saying he has no knowledge of opening of Kartarpur route.
Speaking during Pakistan's 53rd Defence Day held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, General Bajwa vowed to give a befitting reply to those casting an 'evil eye' on his country.
Sidhu said his seating at the swearing-in ceremony of Imran Khan as Pakistan's Prime Minister in Islamabad on August 18 was changed at the last minute and he did not know who sat next to him.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said Sidhu has implicated India by hugging the Pakistan Army chief and instead of explaining his act he is lecturing us over peace.
The case was filed under Indian Penal Case sections involving sedition, confirmed the lawyer.
Captain's statement came minutes after Navjot Singh Sidhu justified his hug with Bajwa in front of Indian media at the Attari-Wagah- border after his return.
Sidhu was seen hugging Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa prior to the ceremony.
Sidhu, Minister of Tourism, Cultural Affairs, and Museums in the Punjab government, said he has brought 'a message of love' to Pakistan as a goodwill ambassador of India.
Navjot Singh Sidhu said he has brought "a message of love" to Pakistan as a goodwill ambassador of India.
Imran Khan will be taking the oath on August 18. Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev have also been invited to the event, other than Sidhu.
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