'No personal rivalry, politics my only religion': Sidhu

Navjot Singh Sidhu, who quit as the president of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, said on Wednesday that he has no personal rivalry with anyone and that he only wants to serve the public.

Hyderabad: Navjot Singh Sidhu, who made his first public appearance albeit virtually on Wednesday, after resigning as the president of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, said he has no personal rivalry with anyone but only wishes to serve the public.

"No personal rivalry with anyone; 17 years of my political career has been for a purpose, to make difference, to take a stand and to make people's lives better. This is my only religion. I can't compromise with my ethics, moral authority. What I witness is a compromise with issues, agenda in Punjab. I can't disguise high command nor can I let them be disguised. I fought for issues concerning Punjab for a long time... There was a system of tainted leaders, officers, now you cannot repeat the same system again... I will stand by my principles," Sidhu said.

Tweeting his resignation letter to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Sidhu had on Tuesday written, "the collapse of a man's character stems from the compromise corner, I can never compromise on Punjab's future and the agenda for the welfare of Punjab. Therefore, I hereby resign as the President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. Will continue to serve the Congress."

A series of resignations poured in after Sidhu's resignation. A minister and three Congress leaders, considered close to Sidhu, stepped down from their posts delivering a big blow to the Congress high command that was hoping of resolving the tussle between Sidhu and captain Amarinder Singh after Navjot was appointed as Punjab Congress President ahead of the Assembly elections early next year. Punjab Cabinet Minister Razia Sultana resigned from her ministerial post in "solidarity" with Sidhu. While Gautam Seth resigned as General Secretary (in-charge training) of Punjab Congress, Yoginder Dhingra resigned as General Secretary of the party's state unit. State party treasurer Gulzar Inder Chahal also stepped down from his post.