Sidhu's ultimatum to party, 'I can't be a dummy chief'

Congress general secretary in charge of Punjab Harish Rawat on Friday said the state chiefs had full powers to act and decide within the perimeters of party stand and constitution. Rawat was reacting to Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu’s “I cannot be a dummy chief who is not allowed to take decisions” remarks made on Friday. Rawat in New Delhi wondered as to who said that Sidhu was a dummy, saying he would look at the context of what Sidhu had said. So far as what Sidhu’s advisers said, we made it clear that it wasn’t acceptable to the Congress, said Rawat, as Sidhu’s controversial adviser Malwinder Singh Mali quit his role on Friday, a day after Rawat said if Sidhu didn’t sack his advisers he would.

As per media report, in Amritsar, Sidhu alleged alleged a lack of freedom in decision-making and he was not allowed a free hand to take decisions. "I have told the party high command that if I am able to come up to the expectations of the people of Punjab and the Punjab model, I will not let Congress go out of the picture for two decades," Navjot Singh Sidhu said.