Navjot Sidhu skips BJP executive meet

Even as Amritsar is hosting the BJP state executive meeting, the city’s BJP Member of Parliament Navjot Singh Sidhu is conspicuous by his absence. As was being speculated, Sidhu didn’t turn up for the meeting on the inaugural day today. While he could not be contacted for comment, his wife, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Navjot Kaur Sidhu, refused to talk on the matter, saying, "he will speak for himself."
However, she kicked off another controversy when she said she had a suspicion that their phone was being tapped. “I’ve been noticing for the past few days that whenever I speak to Navjot (her husband) there is some disturbance in the line, which is not the case when I receive or make calls on other numbers.”
She said she had told her husband about it and was contemplating lodging a police complaint.
Dr Sidhu seemed unhappy at not being taken into confidence on receiving BJP president Rajnath Singh at the airport. “I was told that I would be intimated about the programme, as per the protocol, but did not receive any call,” she said.
Dr Sidhu said she planned to hold a ‘padyatra’ (walk) from Amritsar to Chandigarh to remind Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal about his promise to grant Rs 100 crore for development works in her constituency (Amritsar East).
“I have several projects but no money to execute these. People have high expectations from me as I left my profession as a doctor to serve them. The Deputy CM had promised funds to my constituency when he campaigned for me during the assembly elections.” She said the walk would not be a protest.
During the state executive meeting, Dr Sidhu was seated on the dais on the first row along with BJP ministers. However, her supporters kept a low profile.
Responding to media queries on Sidhu, BJP president Rajnath Singh said he had had a word with Sidhu in New Delhi a few days ago. “He is a prominent and a talented leader. The party will utilise his services in future,” he said.
Questioned on Sidhu’s long absence from Amritsar, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal refused to comment, adding that the BJP "should know about the issue."
He said there had been no talk with the BJP on swapping of the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat. Sidhu has been keeping away from the constituency for the past over six months. In April, his
wife had sparked a row, stating that he felt 'sidelined' and hinting that he may quit politics. Sidhu had himself expressed displeasure with the way his favourite projects were "scuttled" in the city.
He was removed from the party's national executive while his archrival Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina was made state vice-president.

The sulking duo...  Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu not told about receiving BJP president Rajnath Singh at the airport Says she plans to hold ‘padyatra’ from Amritsar to Chandigarh to remind the Deputy CM of his promise to grant Rs 100 cr for development works in her constituency (Amritsar East) But says the walk should not be interpreted as any kind of protest And the grievances Sidhu has kept away from the constituency for months now In April, his wife had sparked a row, stating that he felt 'sidelined’ She had hinted that he may quit politics Sidhu had himself expressed displeasure at the manner in which his favourite projects had been "scuttled" He was removed from the party's national executive