Nothing to worry about: Congress on Punjab crisis

Amid the ongoing crisis in the party's Punjab unit, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Wednesday said the party has nothing to worry about as everything will be all right.

Navjot Singh Sidhu's resignation as state party chief has intensified the crisis in the Punjab Congress, and triggered discussions and deliberations in the party.

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 to resolve the tussle between Sidhu and Captain Amarinder Singh.

Asked about the situation, Venugopal told ANI, "We have nothing to worry about. Everything will be all right."

Sidhu, a cricketer-turned-politician, caused a surprise with his resignation as Punjab Congress chief on Tuesday.

"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," Sidhu said in his resignation letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

Meanwhile, the top Congress leadership has not accepted Navjot Singh Sidhu's resignation and has adopted a wait and watch policy and has asked the local party leadership to resolve the matter.

"We are maintaining a wait and watch policy as Navjot Singh Sidhu is an emotional person. His resignation has not been accepted by the party president and we have asked the state leadership to resolve the issue," a leader said.

Amarinder Singh, who had called Sidhu 'dangerous' and 'anti-national', was quick to react to the lastest development.

'I told you so, he is not a stable man and not fit for the border state of Punjab,' he tweeted.

Former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar tweeted, 'It's just not cricket !'

'What stands compromised in this entire 'episode' is the faith reposed in the (outgoing?) PCC President by the Congress Leadership. No amount of grand standing can justify this breach of trust placing his benefactors in a peculiar predicament,' he posted.

The abrupt resignation took place on a day Amarinder Singh was headed to Delhi, and the day before Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal was scheduled to visit Punjab to make some 'big announcements'.

Singh's travel plan had triggered speculation that he might meet some Bharatiya Janata Party leaders.