Navjot Singh Sidhu is a well-known Indian politician and former cricketer who was recently released from jail. Sidhu was serving a three-year sentence in a 1988 road rage case in which a man was killed. His release has generated a lot of interest and attention in the media and among the public.
Who is Navjot Singh Sidhu?
Navjot Singh Sidhu celebrates his birthday on October 20th. He was born in the year 1963 in Patiala, Punjab, India. He is a former Indian cricketer who played for the Indian cricket team between 1983 and 1999. Sidhu is known for his aggressive style of batting and was a popular figure in the cricketing world during his playing days. After he retired from cricket, Sidhu entered politics and became a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In 2004, Sidhu was elected to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament, from the Amritsar constituency. In 2009, he was re-elected. In 2014, he resigned from the BJP and joined the Indian National Congress (INC). He contested the 2017 Punjab Assembly elections from the Amritsar East constituency and won by a large margin. Sidhu was then appointed as a Cabinet Minister in the Punjab government.
Navjot Singh Sidhu Case and Arrest
However, Sidhu’s political career hit a roadblock in 2018 when he was convicted in a 1988 road rage case. The incident took place in Patiala, Punjab, where Sidhu got into an argument with a man named Gurnam Singh over a parking space. The argument escalated into a physical altercation, and Sidhu allegedly punched Singh, who fell and hit his head on the pavement. Singh was rushed to the hospital but died of his injuries.
After a lengthy legal battle, Sidhu was convicted of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and sentenced to three years in jail in May 2018. He was granted bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in September 2018, and his appeal against the conviction is still pending in the Supreme Court.
Navjot Singh Sidhu Bailed in April 2023
In April 2023, Sidhu was released from the Patiala Central Jail after completing the necessary legal formalities. His release has generated a lot of attention, with some people welcoming it and others criticizing it. The Congress party, to which Sidhu belongs, has hailed his release as a victory of justice and the judiciary.
In conclusion, Navjot Singh Sidhu’s release from jail has been a significant event in Indian politics and society. Sidhu’s career as a cricketer and politician has been eventful, and his conviction in the road rage case has been a major setback for him. His release from jail has brought him back into the limelight, and it remains to be seen how he will shape his political career in the future.
Navjot Singh Sidhu’s Life Achievements
Navjot Singh Sidhu was born on October 20th, 1963, in Patiala, Punjab. His father, Bhagwant Singh Sidhu, was a well-known lawyer, and his mother was a homemaker. Sidhu’s talent in cricket became apparent at a young age, and he soon began playing in local tournaments.
In 1983, at the age of 19, Sidhu made his debut for the Indian cricket team in a test match against the West Indies. He quickly gained a reputation for his stylish and powerful stroke play, especially against fast bowlers, but also held equal command over playing spin.
Sidhu went on to become one of India’s most successful Test cricketers, playing in a total of 51 Test matches and 136 One Day Internationals. He was known for his ability to play under pressure, as well as his aggressive style of batting.
Controversies in Cricket Career
Sidhu’s cricket career was not without its controversies, however. In 1996, during a tour of England, he was accused of assaulting a member of the public with a cricket bat. He was found guilty of the charge and fined.
In 1999, during a tour of Pakistan, Sidhu abruptly retired from international cricket, citing personal reasons. He then joined politics and entered the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament, as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Political Career
Sidhu’s entry into politics was not surprising given his family’s political background. His father, Bhagwant Singh Sidhu, was a prominent leader in the Jan Sangh, the predecessor to the BJP.
Sidhu was elected to the Lok Sabha in 2004 from the Amritsar constituency on a BJP ticket. He soon became known for his fiery speeches in Parliament and his criticism of the Congress party.
In 2006, Sidhu left the BJP and joined the newly formed Amritsar Vikas Manch, which he founded along with his wife, Navjot Kaur Sidhu. He contested the 2009 Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate but lost to the Congress party’s candidate.
Return to BJP and Controversies
In 2016, Sidhu joined the Congress party and was appointed as the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs in the state government of Punjab. However, his time in the Congress party was marked by controversies.
In 2018, Sidhu attended the swearing-in ceremony of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, which sparked controversy in India. Sidhu was criticized for hugging the Pakistani army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, and for his comments praising Imran Khan.
In 2019, Sidhu was dropped from the Punjab Cabinet, reportedly due to his poor attendance at Cabinet meetings. He then resigned from the Congress party and joined the BJP once again.
Personal Life
Mr. Sidhu was raised in a Jat Sikh family. His father, Bhagwant Singh Sidhu, was a well-known lawyer and had served as a member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly. Sidhu completed his schooling at Yadavindra Public School, Patiala, and then went on to pursue a degree in law from the same city.
Sidhu’s personal life has been the subject of much discussion in the media, with controversies and legal issues marring his public image. In 1996, he was accused of assaulting a person in a road rage incident and was arrested and jailed for 13 days. The incident resulted in a lot of negative publicity for Sidhu, and his image as a cricketer suffered a setback.
However, Sidhu’s personal life also has a brighter side. He is married to Navjot Kaur Sidhu, who is a doctor by profession and has served as a member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly. The couple has two children, a son named Karan and a daughter named Rabia. Sidhu has often spoken about the support and encouragement he has received from his wife and family, both during his cricketing career and his stint in politics.
