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CHANDIGARH: Cricketer-turned-MP Navjot Sidhu, who has been on a warpath with the BJP ally Akali Dal in Punjab, has announced to go on a fast-unto-death from Saturday over what he calls stalling of development funds for his parliamentary constituency of Amritsar.
The former Indian opener has been elected thrice from Amritsar.
“I know what are my duties towards the development of Amritsar being an elected Member of Parliament. I will do my duty honestly without criticizing anybody and without speaking against anybody… I will sit on a fast-unto-death from tomorrow,’’ Sidhu said in a statement.
The mercurial cricketer added, “Party president Rajnath Singh has directed me to remain silent. But my duty towards Amritsar would never be stopped.
“Everybody knows why I am going to take such an extreme step and how my five or six major developmental projects including Solid Waste Management, City Bus Service, Multiple Sport Complex, expansion of Bhandari Bridge were scuttled.’’
Sidhu alleged, “The Amritsar Improvement Trust had Rs 160 crore funds, but no development work was carried in the past six years. Instead Rs 60 crore were diverted to others districts of Punjab with the aim to scuttle my projects.’’
Asking a judicial probe into diversion of Rs 60 crore from the Amritsar Improvement Trust, Sidhu said, “The decision to go on fast is my own.’’
It is being pointed out in political circles here that Amritsar strongman Birkam Singh Majithia, who is the brother-in-law of deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal, deosn’t want Sidhu to emerge as a rival in the area.
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