Chandigarh: Navjot Singh Sidhu, lodged in Patiala Jail, was expected to be released on Republic Day on Thursday, but the Aam Aadmi Party government of Punjab did not take any decision on releasing him. Many leaders of the Punjab Congress criticized the Aam Aadmi Party government regarding this. Former state Congress chief Shamsher Singh Dhulo, former MP Mohinder Singh KP, former MLAs Ashwini Sekhri, Navtej Singh Cheema, and Rajinder Singh gathered at Sidhu's residence in Patiala to protest against the Aam Aadmi Party government over the decision.

On the other hand, Sidhu's wife Navjot Kaur tweeted- "Navjot Singh Sidhu comes in the category of dreaded animal, so the government does not want to give him relief on the 75th year of independence. Appeal to all of you to stay away from him.'' Sidhu is serving one year sentence in the 1988 Road Rage death case. Actually, it was expected that Sidhu could be included among those 50 prisoners, who could be given special exemption on Republic Day, but when the day of Sidhu's release came, there was no official statement from the state government. Shamsher Singh Dhulo told the media in Patiala that on January 26 and August 15, some prisoners with good behavior are given a special exemption by the states.

He claimed that Sidhu's name was included in the list of 51 prisoners who were eligible for early release on Republic Day, but it seems that the 'Sidhuphobia' of the Punjab and Central government against Sidhu has not gone away. He said that the government has done injustice not only to Sidhu but also to other prisoners by not giving special exemptions to any prisoner. On the same issue, Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira tweeted, "Dear Bhagwant Mann, It is cowardly that you have not released Navjot Singh Sidhu today! You have shown hatred and vendetta against not only Navjot Sidhu but also all those prisoners. Who could have been released on account of Republic Day." Sidhu's supporters had made preparations to welcome him in Patiala in the hope of his release. On May 20 last year, Sidhu, a former Punjab Congress chief, was jailed after surrendering in a Patiala court after being sentenced to one-year rigorous imprisonment by the Supreme Court.

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