"Sidhu consulted physicians on early Sunday morning in Chandigarh, who advised two alternatives--either a balm coating over his damaged throat, which would require him not to speak for four days or a severe measure of anti-inflammatory injections and steroid medication along with complete rest for 48 hours," it read.
Navjot Singh Sidhu, one of Congress' star campaigners who often lands in controversies, has damaged his vocal cord with his punishing schedule, speaking at 80 rallies during the last one month.
The office of Punjab minister said that he has been put on steroids and injections.
"Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu campaigned across the country, addressing 80 rallies in 28 days. Continuous speaking has severely impacted his vocal cords to the extent that they bled at times," an official release said.
"Sidhu consulted physicians on early Sunday morning in Chandigarh, who advised two alternatives--either a balm coating over his damaged throat, which would require him not to speak for four days or a severe measure of anti-inflammatory injections and steroid medication along with complete rest for 48 hours," it read.
It further says that Sidhu insisted on campaigning in the remaining days as the Lok Sabha elections have reached their final phase.
"He chose anti-inflammatory injections and steroids to rest for just two days because balm coating would have hampered his ability to speak for the next four days. At the moment Sidhu is under medication and in the process of a quick recovery to return to campaigning at the earliest," it read.
In the remaining four days of the election campaign, Sidhu would be addressing public meetings in Patna Sahib, Bihar, on May 14, in Ponta Sahib, Bilaspur and Nalagarh, Himachal Pradesh, on May 15. On the last two days-- May 16 and 17--he would be campaigning in Madhya Pradesh.
1. Sidhu called Modi 'liar-in-chief'
Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu's targeted Narendra Modi with a sexist jibe on Saturday by comparing the Prime Minister to a bride who only makes noise with bangles but doesn't make enough chapattis. The Punjab minister also called Modi "liar-in-chief, divider-in-chief and business manager of Ambani and Adani", with reference to TIME magazine's latest cover.
"Modi Ji uss dulhan ki tarah hain jo roti kum baelti hai aur chudiyaan zada khankati hai taaki mohalle walon ko yeh pata chale ki woh kaam kar rahi hai. Bas yahi hua hai Modi sarkaar mein (Modi ji is like the bride who makes less chapattis but makes noise with her bangles so that neighbours know she is working. This is what happened during Modi government)," Sidhu said while addressing media in Indore.
2. BJP 'looting the country'
The Congress leader said elections are being fought for the welfare of people and not against the BJP as the party is "looting the country".
"I raise issues against the Prime Minister so that the future generation do not point fingers at us claiming that we did not do anything when the BJP was looting the country. I have given statements against the Prime Minister in six press conferences. I have also raised many issues, but he did not even address a single issue. Moreover, if one looks closely, he does not talk about women security, educations, Hunger Index, farmers in his rallies," the former cricketers said.
3. Sidhu - controversies fav child
With reference to TIME magazine's latest cover, Sidhu accused Modi of being a liar, " I call him (Narendra Modi) Liar-in-Chief, Divider-in-Chief and Business Manager of Ambani and Adani," he said.
The motormouth cricketer-turned-politician is not new to controversies, on Friday he referred to BJP leadership as "kaale angrez" (dark-skinned British).
4. Sidhu's kaale angrez jibe
"Congress is the party that gave freedom to the country, it is the party of Maulana Azad and Mahatma Gandhi. They got freedom from the British, now will give the people of Indore the freedom from 'kaale angrez'. We free the country from these 'chors and chowkidars'," Sidhu had said.
Sidhu was barred from campaigning by the Election Commission for 72 hours last month for allegedly asking Muslims in Bihar against splitting their votes. He was served another notice by the poll body on Friday for his remarks against the Prime Minister. .