Sidhu heard babbling on Cong's dismal state in Punjab in a private video

Chandigarh: Congress leader Navjot Sidhu was caught in a video criticising his party, saying the Congress is dying and he should have been allowed to lead the party in Punjab.

On Saturday, Sidhu began a fast demanding the arrest of Union Minister Ajay Mishra's son. In the video, Sidhu was seen pacified by his close aid and cabinet minister Pargat Singh while waiting for Chief Minister Charanjit Channi's arrival, ahead of a march to protest farmers' death at Lakhimpur Kheri. When one of the leaders told Sidhu that the march would be successful, he responded bitterly, asking, "where is success?". He went on to say that Congress is in a dying stage, and he should be allowed to lead.

On Thursday, Sidhu had decided to lead party workers from Mohali to Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri, causing a headache to the Congress in Punjab. His tantrums continue to embarrass his party as it prepares for the 2022 Punjab assembly elections, NDTV reports.

Meanwhile, the opposition Akali Dal took offence at Sidhu's remarks. It said that Sidhu's comment shows his lack of respect towards the Dalit community and had revealed the Congress's 'caste card' ahead of the assembly election.

Akalis argued that persons who keep their own ambition above people's welfare should not direct the state. They added that Congress president Sonia Gandhi should tell Punjabis why she fooled them by making a Scheduled Caste Chief Minister while resting her faith in Sidhu.

After former CM Amarinder Singh quit, the Congress had appointed Sidhu as state unit chief while ascending Chanranjit Channi as CM. Sidhu had serious differences with Amarinder Singh, which eventually resulted in the latter quitting, but the state Congress stood with Sidhu then.