Patiala: Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu finally walked free on Saturday after serving 10 months in Patiala jail in the 1988 road rage case. Several Congress leaders and supporters assembled outside the prison to accord the 59-year-old former cricketer a grand welcome upon his release and chanted “Navjot Sidhu zindabad”.
Soon after being released, the Congress leader spoke to the media and slammed the central government which he said was targeting minorities. Calling Congress leader Rahul Gandhi a 'revolution' that would rattle the current regime, Sidhu accused the BJP-led government of running a dictatorship. "Whenever a dictatorship came to this country a revolution has also come and this time, the name of that revolution is Rahul Gandhi. He will rattle the govt," Sidhu said adding that he was supposed to be released around noon but "they delayed it". "They wanted media people to leave," Sidhu said.
The Punjab Congress leader was expected to walk out at noon on Saturday, however, the jail authorities delayed the release perhaps due to the presence of media and crowd near the jail, his son Karan Sidhu said earlier in the day.
"Democracy is in chains today. There is no such thing as democracy today. If my younger brother Bhagwant Mann is listening to me, this is for him as well. Punjab is India's shield. An attempt is being made to break this shield. Conspiracy is being made to bring President’s Rule in Punjab. Minorities being targeted," Sidhu said soon after his release.
His supporters and fans assembled outside the prison to receive the former cricketer upon his release. 'Navjot Sidhu zindabad' slogans rent the air ahead of his release. The fans and supporters were seen grooving to the 'Dhol' beats outside the jail as a welcome reception to the Congress leader.
The 59-year-old was lodged in the prison in May last year after he surrendered before a Patiala court which sentenced him to one-year rigorous imprisonment. The top court in its order ruled that lessening his punishment would undermine the justice system. A 65-year-old man, named Gurnam Singh, had died in the road rage incident involving Sidhu.
Earlier, in March, Sidhu's wife Navjot Kaur broke the news on her official Twitter handle that she has been diagnosed with stage 2 cancer. She also narrated her ordeal of having to wait for her husband for a long. "He (Navjot Singh Sidhu) is in the prison for a crime he has not committed. Forgive all those involved. Waiting for you each day outside probably suffering more than you. As usual, trying to take your pain away, asked for sharing it. Happened to see a small growth, knew it was bad," her tweet read.
Navjot Singh Sidhu hit headlines during the last Punjab assembly elections for his frequent clashes with former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh who was with the Congress back then. The Congress leadership had to visit the state and offer several top posts to Sidhu, including the state leadership of the Congress in order to contain the situation.
However, after Amarinder Singh's resignation, Chiranjit Singh was chosen by the grand old party for the top post. This was not taken in good spirits by the leader who joined the Congress from the BJP after his stint in cricket.
