punjab

Updated: Oct 14, 2017 15:52 IST

Punjab local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday said Rahul Gandhi’s election to Congress president’s post will be a “game changer” for the party.

BJP state president Vijay Sampla, taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi, had said that if Congress will appoint Gandhi as party president, the party will “disappear from India”.

At a party function in Mudhal village, near Verka, where Amritsar MP Gurjit Aujla adopted the village, Sidhu said Congress was in power, party president Sonia Gandhi and son Rahul Gandhi “sacrificed” their positions.

“Either of them could have been the Prime Minister. This shows their character. In those ten years of rule, madam (Sonia Gandhi) held back Rahul bhai . And now — when time is tough — Rahul Gandhi is bearing the brunt of everything and marching on. He is a man of character,”, Sidhu said.

Lashing out at Delhi Chief minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Sidhu said that he went to him once after party leaders approached him, seeking support.

“Everything was leaked to the media. But, I met Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi at least ten times and not a single word was leaked to the media. People look up to a credible leader and here is the man who gave away all the credit in good time to other party leaders and is bearing the burden during difficult times. He is the best choice as Congress president and I am glad to work under him,” Sidhu said.

Talking about the Gurdaspur bypoll result, which will be declared on Sunday, the Punjab local bodies minister said Congress will “register a win by huge margin” and it will serve as trailer to the change in power in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. “Vinod Khanna won thrice and now we will snatch the seat from BJP, which will lose because of some tainted Akalis leaders”.

Claiming that the party was united, Sidhu said all leaders will stand by Rahul Gandhi.

“People are with the Congress. It is important to be a believer so that you can become an achiever. Making Rahul Gandhi the party president will boost spirit of the party workers,” he said.

As MP Aujla adopted Mudhal village, he announced Rs 1 crore for the development of the village from the MP fund. Pertinently Navjot Kaur Sidhu, wife of Navjot Singh Sidhu, was earlier the MLA from east Amritsar.

Sidhu on Saturday announced Rs 2 crore for the development of the village. He formed a ten-member committee to keep a check on the development works there and claimed that work will be started within 20 days.