Kejriwal assails BJP over Sidhu’s remark

New Delhi: Hitting out at the BJP over Navjot Singh Sidhu’s accusation that he was asked to stay away from Punjab, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said the cricketer-turned-politician would have spoken against drug menace if he went to the state, wondering who was party to trying to protect.

“Sidhu wud hv spoken against drugs, if he went to Punjab.

BJP prevented him. Who was BJP trying to protect? Shocking (sic),” tweeted Kejriwal, who is also national convener of AAP, which is gearing up for Assembly elections in Punjab.

Earlier in the day, Sidhu broke his silence and said that he quit Rajya Sabha as BJP had asked him to stay away from Punjab, but continued to keep everyone guessing on his next move, including whether he will join AAP.

Sidhu alleged he was told to keep away from Punjab to “serve personal interests,” apparently suggesting that the BJP was acting under its ally Shiromani Akali Dal’s pressure.

Targeting BJP, he also said he delivered the prestigious Amritsar seat to the party in adverse circumstances but was “drowned in the Modi wave” in 2014, when he was asked to shift from the constituency.