Chandigarh DSP slaps defamation notice on Navjot Singh Sidhu

Chandigarh Police DSP, Dilsher Singh Chandel, on Monday slapped a defamation notice against Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, for his alleged comments mocking the police force in a public rally a few days ago.

The defamation notice to Sidhu was sent by Chandel through Advocate Ranjivan Singh.

In his notice, DSP Chandel has sought unconditional public apology in writing and through print, electronic and social media for injury/loss of honour of the police force. The notice states, “It was clearly mentioned that no monetary compensation was sought for the reason that the prestige and reputation of the Punjab force cannot and should not be expressed in monetary terms keeping in view their hard duties and supreme sacrifices.”

Navjot Sidhu, while addressing a political rally in Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district December 18, allegedly had bragged about Congress MLA Navtej Singh Cheema and said that Navtej was so strong that “he could make a police officer wet in his pants” and the party workers should be like Navtej.

A video clip of the comments had gone viral later, drawing sharp criticism from netizens. DSP Dilsher Singh Chandel, who joined Chandigarh Police as an assistant sub inspector (ASI) in 1989, had on Saturday released a video condemning Sidhu for his comments.

In his video clip released on December 25, Chandel said, “These are the officers who make public to follow the instructions of political leaders. Without cops, even a rickshaw puller would not obey the instructions of politicians. I was deeply hurt by the comments made by Navjot Singh Sidhu, which shed a poor light on police personnel. I condemn him on the behalf of Indian Police, Punjab Police, and Chandigarh police. I have decided to sue Sidhu for his comments. Such comments from a political leader, who represents the state government, are unacceptable.”

Chandel is attached with Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) of Chandigarh police.

Later on Monday, former Punjab CM, Captain Amarinder Singh, the founder of Punjab Lok Congress, also took a dig at Navjot Singh Sidhu for his alleged comments in a tweet. Amarinder tweeted, “Sad to see our men in uniform being disrespected. 1700 @PunjabPoliceInd personnel sacrificed their lives to bring the state out of the dark days and now they are being mocked by @INCPunjab leaders & above all their President. Shameful!”