‘There Must Be Discipline, Can't Refuse Portfolio’: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh On Sidhu’s Resignation

Sidhu’s resignation from the Punjab cabinet came soon after a cabinet reshuffle on June 6 in which the chief minister had divested him of the local government, and tourism and cultural affairs departments, and allocated him the power and new and renewable energy portfolio.

Outlook Web Bureau

Updated on: 15 July 2019 3:18 pm

Navjot Singh Sidhu, who was dubbed as “king of theatrics” by Punjab ministers after he posted his resignation letter on Twitter by tagging Rahul Gandhi, has now finally submitted his resignation to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

Sidhu, faced flak from Punjab ministers for resorting to Twitter to resign and also for tagging Congress leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Ahmad Patel on the post while not sending a formal letter of resignation to Punjab chief minister nor Punjab Governor.

In a joint statement issued by Punjab ministers, Brahm Mohindra and Charanjit Singh Channi quipped whether Sidhu "was so dumb he didn't know that the cabinet minister post was not a party post, and his resignation could not be accepted by the Congress president."

Sidhu’s resignation from Punjab cabinet came soon after a cabinet reshuffle on June 6 in which the chief minister had divested him of the local government, and tourism and cultural affairs departments, and allocated him the power and new and renewable energy portfolio.

Reacting to his decision to quit, Amarinder Singh has said Navjot Singh Sidhu cannot pick and choose ministries as generals cannot refuse work given to them. Saying he has not seen the content of Sidhu's resignation letter, the Chief Minister said that "there should be some discipline".

After sending his resignation to the Punjab Chief Minister, Sidhu tweeted:

"Today I have sent my resignation to the Chief Minister Punjab, has been delivered at his official residence...,"

Differences between Amarinder Singh and Sidhu had deepened after he was assigned as a minister for Power, an assignment he did not take charge of till his resignation.

"He did not even take cognisance of the fact that it was such a crucial time for the power sector, with power being vital for paddy sowing. Clearly, Navjot Sidhu didn't care about the detrimental effect of his actions," Punjab ministers Brahm Mohindra and Charanjit Singh Channi said.

They claimed that Sidhu had kept the working of the power department in limbo for almost 40 days by not taking over the portfolio.

(With inputs from agencies)