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Tag: Navjot Singh Sidhu

  • Punjab Congress chief urges CM Mann to consider release of Navjot Sidhu from jail

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Saturday appealed to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to consider early release of Navjot Singh Sidhu who is serving a year-long sentence in Patiala central prison in a 1988 road rage death case.

    The appeal comes a day after the Punjab Cabinet approved a proposal of granting special remission to five convicts serving terms in jails. However, the name of Sidhu does not figure in the list.

    “I appeal to Chief Minister @BhagwantMann Sahab to consider the early release of senior @INCIndia leader @sherryontopp Navjot Singh Sidhu Ji also. Matters of justice should be treated above the partisan divide,” Warring tweeted.

    There had been speculations that Sidhu might be granted special remission on Republic Day.

    Several Punjab Congress leaders, including former Punjab Congress chief Shamsher Singh Dullo, had last month lambasted the AAP government for not releasing Sidhu.

    On May 20 last year, Sidhu, the former Punjab Congress chief, was jailed following his surrender before a court in Patiala after he was sentenced to one-year rigorous imprisonment by the Supreme Court.

    The top court had, in its order, said any sympathy in imposing an inadequate sentence would do more harm to the justice system and undermine the public confidence in the efficacy of law.

    Though the court had in May 2018 held Sidhu guilty of “voluntarily causing hurt” to the man, it had spared him a jail term and imposed on him a fine of Rs 1,000.

    The Punjab Cabinet on Friday gave approval for sending the case of special remission to convicts confined in jails of Punjab in the second phase to commemorate the 75th Independence Day of the country being celebrated as ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’.

    Similarly, a green signal was also given for sending the cases seeking the premature release of life convicts confined in the jails of the state.

    After the Cabinet’s nod under Article 163 of the Constitution of India, these special remission/premature release cases will be submitted to Punjab Governor under Article 161 of the constitution, an official statement said.

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Saturday appealed to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to consider early release of Navjot Singh Sidhu who is serving a year-long sentence in Patiala central prison in a 1988 road rage death case.

    The appeal comes a day after the Punjab Cabinet approved a proposal of granting special remission to five convicts serving terms in jails. However, the name of Sidhu does not figure in the list.

    “I appeal to Chief Minister @BhagwantMann Sahab to consider the early release of senior @INCIndia leader @sherryontopp Navjot Singh Sidhu Ji also. Matters of justice should be treated above the partisan divide,” Warring tweeted.

    There had been speculations that Sidhu might be granted special remission on Republic Day.

    Several Punjab Congress leaders, including former Punjab Congress chief Shamsher Singh Dullo, had last month lambasted the AAP government for not releasing Sidhu.

    On May 20 last year, Sidhu, the former Punjab Congress chief, was jailed following his surrender before a court in Patiala after he was sentenced to one-year rigorous imprisonment by the Supreme Court.

    The top court had, in its order, said any sympathy in imposing an inadequate sentence would do more harm to the justice system and undermine the public confidence in the efficacy of law.

    Though the court had in May 2018 held Sidhu guilty of “voluntarily causing hurt” to the man, it had spared him a jail term and imposed on him a fine of Rs 1,000.

    The Punjab Cabinet on Friday gave approval for sending the case of special remission to convicts confined in jails of Punjab in the second phase to commemorate the 75th Independence Day of the country being celebrated as ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’.

    Similarly, a green signal was also given for sending the cases seeking the premature release of life convicts confined in the jails of the state.

    After the Cabinet’s nod under Article 163 of the Constitution of India, these special remission/premature release cases will be submitted to Punjab Governor under Article 161 of the constitution, an official statement said.

  • Navjot Sidhu hospitalised due to liver-related problems; condition stable

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Jailed Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu, who was admitted to Chandigarh’s PGIMER on Monday afternoon due to liver-related problems, is in a stable condition, the medical facility said.

    He underwent a medical examination at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research’s hepatology department in the morning.

    In the afternoon, Sidhu was admitted to the PGIMER, where he had been brought under heavy security from the Patiala prison. In the evening, PGIMER issued a statement, saying Sidhu has been kept under observation and is stable.

    “Former Indian cricketer Shri Navjot Singh Sidhu has been admitted in hepatology ward, Nehru Hospital Extension, PGIMER, Chandigarh, due to liver-related problems and requires further evaluation. “He has been kept under observation and is stable now,” the statement said, quoting Professor Virender Singh, head of the hepatology department at the hospital.

    The former Punjab Congress chief was on May 20 sent to the Patiala central jail in a 1988 road rage death case. He has been sentenced to one-year rigorous imprisonment by the Supreme Court.

    About two weeks back, Sidhu was taken to Rajindra Hospital in Patiala for a medical examination. The cricketer-turned-politician’s counsel, H P S Verma, recently said Sidhu had sought a special diet in prison.

    According to the counsel, Sidhu cannot consume wheat, sugar, ‘maida’ and some other food items. “He can have berries, papaya, guava, double-toned milk and food items which do not have fibre and carbohydrates,” Verma had said.

    The 58-year-old Congress leader suffers from medical conditions like embolism and has a liver ailment.

    In 2015, Sidhu had undergone treatment for acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) at a hospital in Delhi. DVT is caused by a blood clot in a deep vein which hinders the normal blood flow.

    The apex court had sentenced Sidhu in the 34-year-old case, saying any undue sympathy in imposing an inadequate sentence would do more harm to the justice system and undermine the public confidence in the efficacy of law. A 65-year-old man, named Gurnam Singh, had died in the incident.

  • Ex-Punjab Congress chief Navjot Sidhu’s jail diet to contain lactose-free milk, coconut water, juice

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Jailed Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu will serve as a clerk in the Patiala central prison and will get a doctor-recommended daily diet that includes coconut water, lactose-free milk, a glass of juice and a few almonds, an official said.

    A board of doctors has recommended a special diet for Sidhu after he had sought the same in the jail. His medical examination was conducted on May 23 at Rajindra hospital in Patiala, Punjab.

    The 58-year-old cricketer-turned-politician’s special diet includes one cup of rosemary tea or one glass of coconut water in early morning, and one cup of lactose-free milk, one tablespoon of flax/sunflower/melon/chia seeds, five-six almonds, one walnut and two pecan nuts in breakfast.

    In the mid-morning meal, the doctors have recommended a glass of juice (beetroot, cucumber, tulsi leaves, Amla, carrot etc), or any of fruits like watermelon, melon, kiwi, guava etc, or sprouted black chana, green gram with cucumber/tomato/half lemon/avocado.

    For lunch, the doctors have suggested one bowl of cucumber, seasonal green vegetables with one chapati of sorghum, singhara or ragi flours. In the evening, he has been recommended a cup of tea with low-fat milk and 25 grams of ‘paneer’ slice or tofu with half lemon.

    For dinner, the doctors have recommended mix vegetables and ‘dal’ soup or black chana soup and one bowl of sauteed green vegetables. At bedtime, Sidhu has been recommended one cup of chamomile tea and one tablespoon of psyllium husk with half glass of warm water, according to the diet plan for inmates.

    The Congress leader suffers from medical conditions like embolism and has a liver ailment. In 2015, he underwent treatment for acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) at a hospital in Delhi. DVT is caused by a blood clot in a deep vein which hinders the normal blood flow.

    A jail official said Sidhu has been appointed as ‘munshi’ (assistant) to do clerical work in the jail. The official added that he will perform the job from his barrack only because of security reasons. According to the jail manual, prisoners are categorised as unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled.

    Unskilled and semi-skilled prisoners get Rs 40 and Rs 50 per day, respectively. Skilled prisoners get Rs 60 per day. Sidhu, the former Punjab Congress chief, was sent to Patiala central jail on May 20 after he surrendered before a local court.

    He has been sentenced to one-year rigorous imprisonment by the Supreme Court in a 1988 road rage death case.

    The apex court had sentenced him in the 34-year-old case, saying any undue sympathy in imposing an inadequate sentence would do more harm to the justice system and undermine the public confidence in the efficacy of law.

    A 65-year-old man, named Gurnam Singh, had died in the incident.

  • Navjot Singh Sidhu brought to Rajindra hospital in Patiala for medical examination

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu, lodged in Patiala central prison to serve a one-year jail term in a 1988 road rage death case, was taken to Rajindra Hospital in Patiala under heavy security on Monday morning for medical examination, official sources said.

    The cricketer-turned-politician’s counsel HPS Verma said Sidhu has sought a special diet in jail. He said a board of doctors will carry out a detailed medical examination of Sidhu at the hospital.

    “The board of doctors will see what special diet is required and then it will submit its report in a local court (in Patiala),” Verma said over the phone.

    According to the counsel, Sidhu cannot consume wheat, sugar, ‘maida’ and some other food items. “He can have berries, papaya, guava, double-toned milk and food items which do not have fibre and carbohydrates,” Verma said.

    After the board of doctors carry out a medical examination, a report will be submitted in the court of chief judicial magistrate, he said.

    The 58-year-old Congress leader suffers from medical conditions like embolism and has a liver ailment. In 2015, Sidhu also underwent treatment for acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) at a hospital in Delhi.

    DVT is caused by a blood clot in a deep vein which hinders the normal blood flow. Several Congress supporters reached Rajindra Hospital after Sidhu was brought there.

    The former Punjab Congress chief on May 20 was sent to Patiala central jail after he surrendered before a local court.

    He has been sentenced to one-year rigorous imprisonment by the Supreme Court in a 1988 road rage death case. The apex court had sentenced Sidhu in the 34-year-old case, saying any undue sympathy in imposing an inadequate sentence would do more harm to the justice system and undermine the public confidence in the efficacy of law. A 65-year-old man, named Gurnam Singh, had died in the incident.

  • Day after SC sentencing in road rage case, Sidhu surrenders before court in Patiala

    By PTI

    PATIALA: Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu surrendered before a court here on Friday, a day after being sentenced to one-year rigorous imprisonment by the Supreme Court in a 1988 road-rage death case.

    “He has surrendered before the court,” Sidhu’s media advisor Surinder Dalla told reporters outside the court. Officials said Sidhu was taken for a medical examination and he will be lodged in a jail here.

    Accompanied by some party leaders including Navtej Singh Cheema, the 58-year-old Sidhu reached the district court, which is closed to his house, in the afternoon.

    Cheema drove Sidhu, who was in a dark-coloured ‘pathani suit’, to the court in an SUV. This comes just hours after the former Punjab Congress president approached the Supreme Court seeking a few week to surrender to serve the imprisonment.

    The top court bench of justices A M Khanwilkar and J B Pardiwala told senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for Sidhu, that the judgment was passed by a special bench, and that he can file the application and mention it before the Chief Justice.

    Singhvi said he will try and mention the matter before the Chief Justice. Back in Patiala, some supporters of Sidhu had turned up at his residence Friday morning. Patiala District Congress Committee president Narinder Pal Lali, in a message to party supporters Thursday night, had said Sidhu would reach the court at 10 am.

    He had urged them to arrive at the court complex around 9.30 am. The cricketer-turned politician’s wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu had reached their Patiala residence on Thursday night.

    The SC had Thursday sentenced Sidhu to one-year rigorous imprisonment, saying any undue sympathy in imposing an inadequate sentence would do more harm to the justice system and undermine the public confidence in the efficacy of law.

    The 65-year-old Gurnam Singh had died in the road rage incident. When reporters sought Sidhu’s reaction to the verdict on Thursday, he had declined to comment. However, he subsequently tweeted to say he “will submit to the majesty of the law”.

    Though the apex court had in May 2018 held Sidhu guilty of the offence of “voluntarily causing hurt” to the man, it had spared him a jail term and imposed a fine of Rs 1,000. The one-year rigorous imprisonment was imposed on Thursday as a bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and S K Kaul allowed a review plea filed by Gurnam Singh’s family.

    “We feel there is an error apparent on the face of record…Therefore, we have allowed the review application on the issue of the sentence. In addition to the fine imposed, we consider it appropriate to impose a sentence of imprisonment for a period of one year,” the bench said while pronouncing the verdict.

  • Road rage case: Sidhu to surrender before Patiala court; leaders, supporters reach his residence 

    By PTI

    PATIALA: A few Congress leaders and supporters on Friday morning turned up at the residence of the party’s former Punjab unit chief Navjot Singh Sidhu who has been sentenced to one-year rigorous imprisonment by the Supreme Court in a 1988 road-rage case.

    Sidhu is likely to surrender before a court in Patiala on Friday itself.

    ALSO READ: Sidhu road rage case: Finally got justice after 34 years, says Gurnam Singh’s family

    Former Congress legislator Surjit Singh Dhiman was among those to reach Sidhu’s residence in Patiala.

    Patiala District Congress Committee president Narinder Pal Lali, in a message to party supporters on Thursday night, had said that Navjot Singh Sidhu would reach the court at 10 am.

    He urged the party supporters to reach the court complex around 9:30 am.

    The cricketer-turned politician’s wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu had reached the Patiala residence on Thursday night.

    The Supreme Court Thursday had sentenced Navjot Singh Sidhu to one-year rigorous imprisonment in a 1988 road-rage case, saying any undue sympathy to impose an inadequate sentence would do more harm to the justice system and undermine the public confidence in the efficacy of law.

    The apex court enhanced the sentence of Sidhu to one-year rigorous imprisonment in the road rage incident in which a 65-year-old man had died.

    Sidhu, 58, had taken to Twitter to say he “will submit to the majesty of the law” as the cricketer-turned-politician rode an elephant in Patiala earlier in the day to register a symbolic protest against rising prices of essential commodities.

    A bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and S K Kaul allowed a review plea filed by the victim’s family on the issue of the sentence awarded to Sidhu.

    Though the apex court had in May 2018 held Sidhu guilty of the offence of “voluntarily causing hurt” to the 65-year-old man in the case, it spared him a jail term and imposed a fine of Rs 1,000.

    “We feel there is an error apparent on the face of record… Therefore, we have allowed the review application on the issue of sentence. In addition to the fine imposed, we consider it appropriate to impose a sentence of imprisonment for a period of one year,” the bench said while pronouncing the verdict.

    When reporters sought his reaction to the verdict on Thursday, Sidhu declined to comment.

    The family of Gurnam Singh, who died in the 1988 incident, said they finally got justice after 34 years.

    “We are grateful to God. We have finally got justice after 34 years,” Gurnam Singh’s son Narvedinder Singh said.

  • Will submit to the majesty of law: Sidhu after SC sentences him to one-year jail

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Soon after the Supreme Court imposed a one-year jail term on him in a 1988 road rage case, former Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu said on Thursday he “will submit to the majesty of law.”

    Sidhu was in Patiala to take part in a protest against inflation. “Will submit to the majesty of law,” he said in a tweet.

    A bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and S K Kaul on Thursday allowed the review plea filed by the victim’s family on the issue of the sentence awarded to Sidhu.

    Though the apex court had in May 2018 held Sidhu guilty of the offence of “voluntarily causing hurt” to a 65-year-old man in the case, it spared him a jail term and imposed a fine of Rs 1,000.

    “We feel there is an error apparent on the face of record, therefore, we have allowed the review application on the issue of sentence. In addition to the fine imposed, we consider it appropriate to impose a sentence of imprisonment for a period of one year,” the bench said while pronouncing the verdict.

    Earlier in the day, Sidhu rode an elephant in Patiala to register a symbolic protest against rising prices of essential commodities.

    Talking to reporters, he said the rise in inflation had hit the budget of the poor, farmers, labourers and middle class families.

    “Protest against inflation. Inflation devalues money of Farmers, Labourers, Middle class families, while earnings remain same. Cost of food, housing, transport & healthcare has increased by over 50%, reducing value of (Rs) 250 wage to less than (Rs) 150. Pushing crores (of) people into poverty,” Sidhu said in another tweet.

  • Sidhu meets Mann, says CM receptive, without arrogance

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday met Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and praised him for not having arrogance and receptive to his viewpoints as he discussed a host of issues.

    Sidhu’s meeting came days after he called Mann as a “rubber doll”, alluding to the Opposition charge that the state government is being run by the AAP leadership from Delhi. Sidhu last month praised Mann as a “younger brother” and an “honest man”.

    Before the meeting, Punjab minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said Mann would meet Sidhu, who was not an MLA, MP or a minister and had even lost his election.

    Taking a dig at the Congress and Akalis, he said the previous chief ministers did not give time to their own MLAs and even senior leaders for meetings.

    The former cricketer on Sunday had announced that he would meet Mann to discuss matters related to the revival of the state’s economy.

    “I came here for Punjab’s progress. What should I say about CM saab (Mann), he has no ego and arrogance. He is the same today like he was 10-15 years back and even six months back,” said Sidhu while talking to reporters after the meeting at the Punjab Civil Secretariat. “He has as much pain as I have,” said Sidhu.

    The meeting between Sidhu and Mann started around 5.15 pm and lasted about 50 minutes. Asked whether his meeting with Mann was positive, Sidhu said, “It is very positive. When a person is receptive then you do not feel the passing of 50 minutes.” This meeting was for issues concerning changing the lives of people, he said.

    The former Congress legislator suggested Mann that money to the tune of Rs 25,000 crore to Rs 30,000 crore could be generated from the liquor sector. Sidhu stressed that it was necessary to generate resources for Punjab’s progress.

    He urged Mann to end the contract system backed by politicians in the sand mining sector and fix the rate of sand. “I see one thing that time will be up for Punjab’s traitors, be it sand mining. I told him the voice of my soul,” said Sidhu.

    “When you fix the rate of sand, everything will be set right. There is nothing called the sand mafia, it is the transport mafia,” said Sidhu. He also cited an example of Telangana which was earning Rs 57 crore per week from sand mining against Rs 40 per annum generated by Punjab.

    Raising the issue of cable monopoly in the state, Sidhu said that he felt that the CM would break it. He said that he had been raising these issues during the previous Congress government.

    Sidhu further pointed out that there were irregularities in the tender system and told CM Mann to bring out a standard tender system.

    Raising the issue of power purchase agreements with private power companies, Sidhu asked Mann to cancel the same and sign “smart PPAs” and issue directive for providing power at cheaper rates. He also said that the nexus between police, politicians and drug peddlers should be broken. “I told him one thing that it is a question of Punjab’s honour which should not be broken,” he said.

  • Navjot Sidhu to meet Punjab CM to discuss ‘revival’ of state’s econo

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu said he will meet Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday to discuss the revival of the state’s economy, days after he had called the CM a “younger brother” and an “honest man”.

    Sidhu, who had been attacking the AAP-led government in the state over various issues including the law and order situation, said Punjab’s resurrection was possible only with a collective effort.

    “Will meet CM @BhagwantMann tomorrow at 5:15 PM in Chandigarh to discuss matters regarding the revival of Punjab’s economy. Punjab’s Resurrection is only possible with an honest collective effort,” said Sidhu in a tweet on Sunday.

    Sidhu on April 22 had said the party lost the Punjab elections because of the “mafia raj” that prevailed in the state and it now needed to reinvent itself, and praised Mann as a “younger brother” and an “honest man”.

    Sidhu had said he will support Mann, whose Aam Aadmi Party trounced the Congress in the recent assembly polls, if he fights against the mafia.

    Notably, AICC incharge of Punjab affairs Harish Chaudhary had also written to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, seeking disciplinary action against Sidhu for trying to “portray himself above the party.”

    In the letter dated April 23, Chaudhary had also forwarded a detailed note of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring regarding Sidhu’s “current activities.” Warring, in his note, had highlighted Sidhu’s “parallel activities” and his recent meetings with expelled leaders, including former MLAs Surjit Singh Dhiman.

    Following the party’s drubbing in the five states that went to polls earlier this year, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi had asked the party chief there to resign.

    The Congress appointed Warring in place of Sidhu after its drubbing in the state assembly polls. For months before the elections, Sidhu had been questioning the leadership of the then chief minister Amarinder Singh. He also directed barbs at Charanjit Singh Channi, who took over as the CM ahead of the elections.

  • Days after disciplinary action, Sidhu says time will reply 

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Days after AICC Punjab affairs in-charge Harish Chaudhary sought disciplinary action against party leader Navjot Singh Sidhu, the former state Congress chief issued a cryptic tweet Wednesday, saying he has “given the right to reply to time”.

    Though he didn’t give any context to his tweet, it is being seen as a response to Chaudhary’s letter to party president Sonia Gandhi seeking action against Sidhu for trying to “portray himself above the party”.

    “I often listen to talks against me in silence. I have given the right to reply to time,” Sidhu said in a tweet in Hindi.

    In the letter dated April 23, which surfaced on Monday, Chaudhary had also forwarded a detailed note by Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring regarding Sidhu’s “current activities”.

    Chaudhary had noted in the letter that Sidhu relentlessly criticised the previous Congress government despite being asked not to do so.

    Chaudhary had also mentioned that during the ceremony to install Warring as Punjab Congress chief Sidhu had come to the state party headquarters, but did not share the stage with other leaders.

    It was “inexcusable”, according to Chaudhary.

    In his note, Warring was learnt to have highlighted Sidhu’s “parallel activities” and his recent meetings with expelled leaders including former MLAs Surjit Singh Dhiman and Kewal Dhillon.

    Warring had on Monday refused to make any comment on the letter but asserted everybody has to be in discipline.

    The demand for action against Sidhu came also after his tweet wishing the best to poll strategist Prashant Kishor who had hinted at making a fresh beginning from his home state Bihar.

    “The first blow is half the battle my friend. A good beginning always makes a good ending Best always in your sincere efforts to honour the spirit of our Constitution. The power of people must return to the people’, manifold,” Sidhu had said in a tweet.

    He had also put out a picture of him with Kishor the day the poll strategist declined the Congress offer to join the party.

    Following the party’s drubbing in the five states that went to polls earlier this year, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi had asked the party chiefs there to resign.

    The Congress appointed Warring in place of Sidhu.

    For months before the elections, Sidhu had been questioning the leadership of the then chief minister Amarinder Singh.

    He also directed barbs at his own party’s Charanjit Singh Channi, who took over as the CM ahead of the elections.