Chandigarh:
Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu along with former Indian hockey team captain Pargat Singh on Thursday formally launch a new political outfit named ‘Awaaz-e-Punjab’.
The new party will contest the Punjab assembly elections next year. Elections to 117 assembly seats are likely to be held in January or early February next year.
The former BJP MP addressed a press conference along with two independent legislators, Balwinder Singh Bains and Simarjeet Singh Bains.
Excerpts of Sidhu's press conference-
# We will take 15 days and then get back to you with our decision and more details.
# You (Kejriwal) only wants 'Yes Men'.
# Kejriwal ji told me 'don't fight elections, ask ur wife to contest will make her a minister.' I said 'Sat shri Akal'.
# Kejriwal ji tweeted about meeting with me, but he said half truth.Let me complete it.
# When I went to Hamid Ansari sahab he was shocked by my resignation decision, he said he never saw anyone doing this.
# My resignation from Rajya Sabha had nothing to do with Kejriwal ji.
# Log kehte hain 'kaale Badal chhat ke suraj nikalkna chahiye'.
# Government should be for the people but in Punjab it is all about one family.
# Awaaz-e-Punjab is the resurrection & redemption of Punjab which is in dire strait.
# Awaaz e Punjab ek inquilaabi awaaz hai.
# There is a tradition in India that good people are kept as decoration pieces and used only for campaigning.
Last month, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said that Sidhu had not put any pre-conditions on joining the AAP and needed time to think over the issue.
Reports had said that the former BJP leader wanted the AAP to project him as the chief ministerial candidate; however the newbie party was reluctant to do so.
