Navjot Singh Sidhu clarifies his remarks against SAD

CHANDIGARH: A day after the Shiromani Akali Dal asked BJP to "tame" its leader Navjot Singh Sidhu over his "outburst" against the ruling coalition partner, the former MP today said his remarks were not directed at the Akalis but those who loot and plunder Punjab.

"What I had said was that the demons must be dealt with. Those who loot and plunder Punjab must go. If certain Akalis are saying that he (Sidhu) is talking about us (them), I never knew they fall in this category," Sidhu said.

SAD has taken strong exception to the "derogatory remarks" made by Sidhu at a religious function in Ludhiana on Sunday.

Punjab Education Minister and party spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema yesterday rang up State BJP chief Kamal Sharma to apprise him about the comments made by Sidhu terming the former MP's "action" as "intolerable and against the spirit of coalition dharma".

Speaking at a function, Sidhu had accused the Akali regime in Punjab of converting politics into a commercial venture.

In an apparent swipe at SAD's slogan of "Raj Nahi, Sewa (service, not rule)", Sidhu had said, "For them (Akalis) it is only 10 per cent sewa (service) and 90 per cent mewa (commercial gain)", following which SAD had demanded that strict disciplinary actions be taken against him.

Sidhu today said "wind of change is blowing in Punjab" and he remains a dedicated soldier of the party and has never aspired for anything.

"I am a soldier of the party... a worker is always permanent," he added.