A day after naming a candidate, Congress today did a volte face by declaring that it will "boycott" the February 13 bypoll for Khadoor Sahib assembly constituency in Punjab because the issue of sacrilege remains unresolved.
"It's a boycott, it is not opting out (of the electoral fight)," PCC President and former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said at a press conference here.
The party had yesterday announced the re-nomination of Ramanjit Singh Sikki who represented the Khadoor sahib constituency before quitting over the sacrilege issue few months back. The nomination had been approved by Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
The seat had fallen vacant because of Sikki's resignation.
"He (Sikki) wrote to me that I resigned on that (desecration) issue and further mentioned unless the party orders him to fight, his conscience does not permit to fight.
"I agreed with him, endorsed what he said and I sent his letter to Congress President, she has, of course, approved his candidature but left it to me and the PCC to decide whether he should fight or not," Amarinder Singh said.
AAP has already decided not to field its candidate, saying it is concentrating on next year's Assembly polls in the state, making it now a cakewalk for ruling Shiromani Akali Dal candidate Ravinder Singh Bramhapura from the seat.
The last day of filing nominations ended today.
The decision evoked sharp reactions from senior party leader Jagmeet Singh Brar who felt it was a "blunder" not to contest and accused Amarinder of "backstabbing".
In a series of tweets, he said, "My heart bleeds to write, we surrendered before Badal and Akalis. We have given up. I and the Congress worker fought for 35 years. Feel bad."
Attacking Amarinder, he tweeted, "Khadoor Sahib Sonia Gandhi approves Congress candidate, we run away from contest. Humongous fraud, betrayal, Amarinder backstabs again."
He also tweeted, "Khadoor sahib justification for running away boycotting, desecration of Guru Granth Sahib and behbal kalan, Wah!" and said, "We have digged our own grave. No body to blame.
