Navjot Sidhu Takes Back Resignation, But Serves New Ultimatum To Congress
Apart from the Advocate General, Navjot Singh Sidhu has also been pushing for the removal of IPS Sahota as Punjab police chief.
New Delhi:
Navjot Singh Sidhu today said he has taken back his resignation as Punjab Congress chief but lost no time in serving a new ultimatum to his party. He said he will return to his office “when a new Advocate General is appointed”.
That could be tough, given that Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has reportedly rejected the resignation of APS Deol, the man Mr Sidhu wants removed as the Advocate General of Punjab.
“I have taken back my resignation,” Mr Sidhu told reporters, finally announcing what had been anticipated three weeks ago after his meeting with Rahul Gandhi.
“When a new Advocate General is appointed I will go to the party office and take charge,” he added.
Mr Deol had handed over his resignation to the Chief Minister on Monday following repeated attacks from Mr Sidhu, who wants him out for representing two accused cops in a sacrilege and police firing case of 2015.
The state government has yet to clarify whether or not the resignation has been accepted. Sources say Mr Channi has refused to accept it, which has infuriated Mr Sidhu even more.
Mr Deol was counsel for former police chief Sumedh Saini, one of the accused in the case related to the desecration of the Sikh religious text Guru Granth Sahib, and police firing on protesters.
Apart from the Advocate General, Mr Sidhu has also been pushing for the removal of IPS Sahota as Punjab police chief. Mr Sahota was the head of a Special Investigation Team formed in 2015 by the then Akali government to probe the sacrilege incidents.