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Navjot Sidhu announcing Dharamyudh sounds like Manpreet Badal of 2011



Image result for pics of navjot singh sidhu

Going back to recent history is normal when a leader gives the call to change the destiny of the jinxed Punjab.
This dream-selling can be traced to 1996 but that would be discussed later.
The parallels have to be found in recent history.
Cricketer turned politician and former minister in the present Capt Amarinder Singh government Navjot Singh Sidhu today launched himself on the political turf in a new capacity. He today talked of Dharamyudh  on his Jittega Punjab channel to give a new hope to the people.
In people’s perception, he is a leader with credibility. His emotional approach has the potential to convince the gullible people.
However, he reminds of Manpreet Singh Badal of 2011.
A newspaper commented when he launched his Punjab People’s Party in March, 2011: “Former finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal today changed Punjab’s political geography by launching People’s Party of Punjab (PPP)”.
Manpreet had sworn by the soil of Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of Shaheed Bhagat Singh. Sidhu too today referred to the legacy of the  martyr.
One of the main issues that Manpreet  raised at that time was the burgeoning debt of Punjab. Sidhu also today started with it.
 Aam Aadmi Party too talked of Shaheed Bhagat Singh in the run up to the 2017 Assembly elections. The leaders who had nothing to do with the ideology of Bhagat Singh started donning yellow turbans denoting the spirit of sacrifice. They did not know that the colour of the turban of Bhagat Singh was white.
Punjab definitely needs new leadership with a roadmap that meets the aspiration of the people under the fast changing situation to rekindle hope in the new generation that otherwise sees little positive emerging.
The first issue is of convincing the young generation is that the situation is not completely lost.
Sidhu is convincing. But then Manpreet too was highly convincing.
Of course, one need not be pessimistic. There is always hope.
And Sidhu is being perceived in that role.  He jumped into the new orbit when he announced the decision of Pakistan to accept the longstanding demand of the Sikhs in Indian Punjab to provide free access to Katarpur Sahib shrine via a corridor. He is the only leader who is by and large given credit by the Sikhs for this major initiative that was hailed globally.
Punjab always has the space for new ideas and new leadership. AAP too was a party of hope from 2014 to 2017 but it crashed on the way.
Akali Dal chief Parkash Singh Badal in the run up to the 1997 Assembly elections sold the dream of converting Punjab into California. That was the first Akali government that completed its full term. However, the situation on the ground remained the same.
The state now faces stagnation in economy and the situation calls for drastic changes. Mere dream-selling would not do.
What is lacking is the political will.
The Akali Dal used to represent the culture of Punjab but its leadership now has different priorities.
Punjab needs  committed and dedicated leadership having no interest in any other business of any kind.
Only a big push can end this stagnation. This border state  continues to have a lot of potential.
Sidhu should unfold his roadmap within the next six months. And there has to be the organisational  back-up.

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