Amarinder plays down differences with Sidhu, says no issues with him

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday played down his differences with Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu, saying he has no issues with the Amritsar MLA and the ex-minister could discuss any matter with anyone in the party.

The chief minister's reply has come two days after the cricketer-turned-politician launched a YouTube channel, describing it as a platform to "propel" Punjab towards "revival and renaissance".

The 56-year-old Sidhu, who has been at loggerheads with the Punjab CM, was blamed for his "inept handling" of the Local Government Department for the "poor performance" of the Congress in the urban areas during the Lok Sabha polls last year.

In June, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had divested Sidhu of the Local Government and Tourism and Cultural Affairs Departments.

He was allotted the power and new and renewable energy portfolio after which he had resigned from the Punjab cabinet.

When asked about the status of the Congress MLA in the party, the chief minister on Monday said he was a Congressman and "we will certainly consider all his wishes" in taking any decision.

Amarinder Singh said he had known Sidhu since he was a two-year-old child and had "no personal issues with him".

To a question about Sidhu meeting the central party leadership on Punjab issues instead of raising these with the state leadership, the CM said, "He is welcome to discuss any issue with anyone in the party."
Commenting on Sidhu's YouTube channel, Amarinder Singh said, "That is up to anybody. If I want to run a channel who can stop me."
"I will certainly fight the next elections," the 78-year-old CM said, adding, "Do you think I am too old to fight the polls."