Visibly shaken Sidhu backtracks from fast unto death threat, says satisfied but unhappy

A visibly shaken BJP Member of Parliament and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu today backtracked from his threat to sit on a fast unto death in protest against the SAD-BJP Government in Punjab for misusing development funds meant for his Amritsar constituency.

He said he was satisfied with Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal's reply to his questions relating to the development of the city, but, still unhappy over the evolving situation.

Sidhu, who is usually known for his self styled assertions and quoting couplets, repeatedly expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Badal for accepting his demands.

He said that events and incidents of the past should be forgotten. He did not reply to questions on what made him change his mind on the fast-unto-death threat.

Sidhu repeatedly said that he wanted to work for the people of Amritsar.

He blamed media for wrongly interpreting his utterances of the recent past.

He said that he would take a decision on his political future soon in consultation with the BJP state and central leadership.

Shanta Kumar, the chief of the Punjab BJP unit, told ANI that the saffron party is disciplined, and reiterated that Sidhu should have sorted out his issues across the table, and not vented his anger before the media.

He also expressed his gratitude to Badal for his magnanimity in acceding to some of Sidhu's demands.

Senior Congress leaders such as Dr. Raj Kumar Verka and Jasbir Singh Dimpa said Sidhu was known to resort to rhetoric, and had been exposed through this episode.

They also accused him of not being serious about the development projects of Amritsar.