Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, who joined the Congress last year just before Punjab elections, not only enthralled the delegates at the Congress plenary with his witty remarks and one-liners but also announced that he won’t rest until party chief Rahul Gandhi hoists the flag from the Red Fort next year.
“Rahul bhai, gather all the party workers, next year you will be hoisting the flag at Red Fort,” Mr. Sidhu said amid loud applause from the audience.
“A PM can be ex, MP can be ex, MLA can be ex, but a party worker cannot be an ex ever,” he said.
Mr. Sidhu, who as a BJP MP had targeted former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for being maun (silent), lavished praise on him.
Speaking in Hindi, he said, “Sir, I have atoned myself by placing myself under your feet. You are a Sardar as well as ‘asardaar’ [effective],” said the Congress Minister from Punjab that evoked laughter from Sonia Gandhi and other Congress leaders. He acknowledged Priyanka Gandhi’s role in bringing him into the party.
