A day after his formal induction into the party, cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu termed his joining the Congress as his "homecoming" and launched a broadside against Punjab's ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
"I am a born Congressman. This is a homecoming for me," Sidhu said.
"This (election) is a fight for Punjab's existence, its self-respect.... Punjab which was once known for Green Revolution, now is notorious for 'chitta' (a lethal synthetic drug popular among the youths of the state).
He said that his father too was a Congressman, and waged the freedom struggle as a member of Kirti Ghadar Party.
The move, however, was ridiculed by both Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Said Sukhbir Badal, deputy CM of Punjab: "Sidhu is like a human bomb. I can give you in writing that he will quit Congress party within 6 months."
Responding to Sidhu's mother party remark, the deputy CM said, "He is someone who changes his mother every two days. I want to ask him how many mothers he has?," reported ANI.
"Congratulations to Sidhu saab who calls it a gharwapasi to go to a party that engineered a genocide on the Sikh community," said SAD leader Harsimrat Badal.
"Some people have their feet in three boats — sometimes BJP, Congress and why not go ahead a little into Pakistan."
"Will people forget what he said about Sonia and Rahul Gandhi? He used the most derogatory words for Dr.Manmohan Singh sahab," said SAD leader Bikram Majithia.
Said union minister Kiren Rijiju, "Navjot Singh Siddhu is a great colleague. I hope he doesn't drown in a sinking ship. India had tolerated Congress for 60 long years,"
Sidhu, who quit the BJP saying he was feeling stifled there, had earlier toyed with the idea of joining the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
(With inputs from IANS, ANI)
