Navjot Kaur Sidhu, wife of Congress leader & former cricketer, Navjot Singh Sidhu, has sent shockwaves in Punjab politics. Dr. Navjot Kaur Sidhu who was earlier in the BJP and now part of Congress party, recently made a shocking claim that to become Chief Minister of Punjab from the Congress party you have to give Rs 500 crore in a suitcase.
Navjot Kaur made these remarks after she met Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria. Navjot Kaur Sidhu while talking to reporters said, "We do not have Rs 500 crore to give to sit in the Chief Minister’s chair,” she said, adding that no one had demanded money from them but “the one who gives a suitcase of Rs 500 crore becomes the CM".
This remarks sparked a massive uproar with BJP as well as Aam Aadmi Party slamming Congress Party.
After the controversy took the centre stage, Navjot Kaur Sidhu took to her X handle and clarified that her statement was blown out of proportion.
She wrote, "I am shocked to see the twist given to a straight comment saying that our Congress party has never demanded any thing from us. On being asked about Navjot becoming a CM face from any other party, I stated that we have no money to offer for a CM post. Listen carefully."
BJP State President Sunil Jakhar addressed a press conference on Sunday and alleged that a close associate of a Congress candidate had told him that he got the CM's post for Rs 350 crore.
For the unversed, before joining the BJP, Sunil Jakhar served as the President of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) from 2017 to 2021.
On Navjot Kaur's statement, Sunil Jakhar said that after the removal of Captain Amarinder Singh, he (Navjot Sidhu) himself was a contender for the Chief Ministership, and that his statements reflect the internal state of the Congress party.
Jakhar added that a Congress MP had previously said that the party's high command had sent bandits to Punjab to rob the leaders.
Sunil Jakhar said that bids are being made for positions in the Congress, and people's pockets are being considered, not their abilities. He said that such a development within a national party and the main opposition party is a matter of great concern for the country and democracy.
He added that these allegations are not being leveled by the opposition but by their own leader, who is still a contender for the Chief Minister's post.