BJP blushes at Sidhu outbursts

CHANDIGARH: Embarrassed by the unpleasant outbursts by cricketer-turned-politician avjot Singh Sidhu against the opposition candidate, some BJP leaders have appealed to the party high command to reign in the Punjabi puttar.

“Such reckless outbursts can not only mar his electoral prospects, but also affect the chances of other party candidates,” said a ex- general secretary of BJP.

Sidhu was engaged in a battle of expletives in a live show on prime time TV on Sunday, with Punjab finance minister Surinder Singla. Both are contesting the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat and had participated in the show to put forth their respective electoral agendas.

The show had instead turned to be a free-for-all, with supporters from both sides indulging in fisticuffs. Both, Sidhu and Singla had demonstrated their linguistic prowess with unbridled use of foulest expletives. Senior leaders have sought the party high command to prevail on Sidhu to exercise restrain in the election campaign.

The BJP has fielded three candidates for the Assembly as well in Amritsar.

Sidhu, who was convicted by the court for culpable homicide in a road rage incident, had justified his tirade saying that Singla had called him a murderer. Sidhu in turn had called him a dalaal (agent) of a private company.

Singla has now announced that he will take the matter to the SC where Sidhu’s case is pending adjudication. He said he would like to appraise the SC with the manner in which Sidhu loses his temper habitually. Amritsar DCP KS Bhullar, who is also the returning officer, has issued notice to both Sidhu and Singla.