Anger against Sidhu spills on to road

Ludhiana: The anger against local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu’s remarks following Pulwama terrorist attack, in which more than 40 CRPF personnel were killed, spilled on to the roads when the BJP’s youth wing — Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) — protested Sidhu’s arrival in the city.
BJYM members staged a protest outside the hotel on Ferozepur Road where Sidhu had arrived to make announcements on various development works on Saturday.

Demanding sacking of the minister for his remarks and keeping soft corner for Pakistan in the wake of terrorist attack, the protesters waved black flags and also blackened the hoarding of Sidhu outside the hotel.

Raising slogans against Sidhu, the protesters also blocked the way of convoy of Congress MP Ravneet Bittu, assuming it to be of Sidhu’s. The leaders jostled with the cops and were taken away from the spot before Sidhu arrived.

BJYM president Mahesh Datt Sharma even asked Bittu to tell Sidhu to go back and the Congress should sack him from Punjab cabinet for his ‘soft corner towards Pakistan’ even after Pulwama attack.

He said they have no problem with Congress leaders or their programme, but they were against Sidhu. Afterwards, police detained Sharma and some other leaders.

A few protesters, who tried to escape, were also detained.

In the entire incident, cops also allegedly manhandled some of the protesters.

Sidhu arrived at the spot almost an hour late after the protesters were removed from the site.

Later, protesters were let free when BJP leaders reached division number 5 police station.

Responding to the demand of protesters, Bittu said there is no question of Sidhu’s patriotism. “He is a cabinet minister in Punjab and had remained a sportsman who had just played cricket with Pakistan. There is no question of him of not being patriotic. And we are nobody to ask him to go back,” he said.