NEW DELHI: Former Cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu, who was dwindling between the Congress, and the Aam Aadmi Party, after his withdrawal from the Bharatiya Janta Party, announced a brand new political front- the Awaaz-e-Punjab. The 53 year old put an end to all speculations of him joining Arvind Kejriwal's AAP, by releasing a poster of him, along with sitting Shiromani Akali Dal MLA, Olympian and former hockey captain Pargat Singh, and two Ludhiana-based independent MLAs Simarjit Bains and Balwinder Bains.
The poster read, "Our fight is against those who have ruined Punjab. We would work to serve the interests of Punjab." Speaking to the media, Simarjit said, "We have decided to launch the political party named Awaaz-e-Punjab and it would contest the 2017 assembly polls on all 117 seats." He added, "The new front would work towards the interests of Punjab and its people. We have come together to fight traditional politics of dishonesty and corruption. Anyone who is willing to work for the interests of Punjab are welcome to join us."
Pargat said, "Diler sher ikatthe hue hain... Brave Punjabi men who have opposed the patronage of drugs, mining and transport mafia and poor agriculture policies of the ruling SAD-BJP government have got together." Sidhu himself, chose to remain silent over the news. Sources close to Sidhu and his BJP MLA wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu said that the removal of AAP's Punjab unit convenor Sucha Singh Chhotepur from his post had nothing to do with the cricketer's move not to align with AAP. Pargat Singh, who had openly disagreed with the Akali leadership on a number of issues, was suspended from the party on July 19. He was believed to be in touch with AAP leaders.
