BJP prevented Sidhu from speaking against drugs in Punjab: Kejriwal

With Navjot Singh Sidhu claiming that he quit the Rajya Sabha because he was asked to stay away from Punjab, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prevented the cricketer-turned-politician from speaking against drug abuse in the state in order to protect someone.

"Sidhu wud hv spoken against drugs, if he went to Punjab. BJP prevented him. Who was BJP trying to protect? Shocking," Kejriwal tweeted after Sidhu's press conference.

Earlier today, Sidhu finally broke his silence on his resignation from the Parliament and said that he stepped down as the Rajya Sabha MP because he was asked to stay away from Punjab.

"I was told to stay away from Punjab. Why was I told to do so? How can I leave Punjab for some selfish gains? I am a true nationalist. No party is bigger than Punjab. I only want to serve Punjab and Amritsar. If this was the first time, I could have still tolerated. But this is the third or fourth time that this has happened. When Modi ji came to power, I was also suppressed along with the opposition," he told the media.

The former cricketer, who was thrice the Lok Sabha member from the BJP, was asked to make way for fellow party colleague Arun Jaitley in Amritsar during the 2014 general election.

"I was asked to fight the elections from Kurukshetra, then West Delhi. I said no, I won't betray my people. Today, they are telling me to leave Punjab. They should tell me my fault," he said.

Sidhu, however, did not elaborate his future plans as he did not disclose whether he was joining the AAP or desired to be Punjab's chief ministerial candidate.

He had last week resigned from the Rajya Sabha, only about three months after his nomination by the government.

Kejriwal had then lauded Sidhu's move, saying it was a courageous decision.