After written assurance from Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu called off his scheduled fast-unto-death on Saturday.
BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu called off his scheduled fast-unto-death, after receiving assurances from CM Parkash Singh Badal on completion of developmental projects in Amritsar. (Reuters)
The cricketer-turned-politician had announced on Friday that he would go on a fast-unto-death from Saturday to protest against the stalling of disbursement of development funds for his Amritsar constituency.
The three-time MP said he had been assured by Badal that the Amritsar’s development projects would be completed in a time-bound manner.
“Badal sahab is like a father to me, he has given me written assurance regarding the time-bound completion of the projects and I have decided to call off the programme,” Sidhu said addressing a press conference in Amritsar.
Sidhu said that he welcomed Badal’s written assurance, but at the same time lamented that an elected representative had been forced to resort to a situation where he was left with no option but to think on going on fast-unto-death for the people of his constituency.
Sidhu had said on Friday, “without criticising anybody and without speaking against anybody… I will sit on a fast-unto-death from tomorrow (Saturday).”
“Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh has directed me to remain silent. But my duty towards Amritsar would never be stopped,” said Sidhu, who returned from Delhi.
Badal had termed the Sidhu’s decision to proceed on fast-unto-death as ‘unwarranted’, adding he should not have taken this step as the issues could have been resolved amicably.
Sidhu had returned to Amritsar earlier this month after remaining absent from his constituency for nearly 8 months, and hit out at the Badal government for not doing enough for its development.
Sidhu had been charged by the opposition of spending more time on shooting for television shows and doing cricket commentary.(indianexpress)
