Tame Sidhu, Akalis tell BJP

Punjab's ruling Shiromani Akali Dal Monday lodged a protest with state BJP President Kamal Sharma over the utterances of former BJP MP and cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu against the Punjab government.

Akali Dal secretary and Punjab Education Minister Daljit Singh Cheema called up Sharma and lodged a protest over the "derogatory remarks" by Sidhu at a religious function in Ludhiana Sunday. The Akali leader also asked the BJP to "tame Sidhu".

Sidhu, while addressing the gathering, had openly called upon the people to throw out the "corrupt and evil" forces from Punjab in the next assembly elections. Though he did not name any leader or party, the obvious reference was to the Akali Dal leaders.

"Sidhu's utterances were itself a violation of the advice of senior BJP national leadership which has recently publicly endorsed the continuation of alliance in Punjab," Cheema said while urging Sharma to take up the matter with the BJP high command "so as to tame Sidhu".

Cheema said that Sidhu's action was "intolerable and is against the spirit of coalition dharma". The Akali Dal and the BJP have an alliance government in Punjab since 2007. The Akali Dal is part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the centre.

Expressing surprise at Sidhu's outburst, Cheema said as the BJP high command in Delhi and in Punjab had openly clarified that there were no differences between the Akali Dal and the BJP, there was no reason for Sidhu to speak out against the Akali Dal leadership.

He also sought "strict disciplinary action" against Sidhu.

Cheema said: "Such utterances are creating bitterness in the SAD-BJP alliance. I hope that the BJP leadership takes the matter seriously."

Sidhu had also criticised the Akali Dal and the Badals during the recent election campaign for the Haryana assembly polls.