Atal brought me to politics, says Siddhu

Indore, Sep 7 (UNI) Claiming himself to be a fan of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former cricketer Navjot Singh Siddhu today said he was in politics due to Mr Vajpayee.

''Mr Vajpayee is my ideal and I have forayed into politics just beacuse of him'', Mr Siddhu told reporters here.

''I had never thought of joining politics and therefore declined the offer of BJP senior leaders M Venkaiah Naidu and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to contest from Amritsar constituency. But I could not say ''no'' to Mr Vajpayee who contacted me on phone'', Mr Siddhu said, adding ''A jawan could not ignore a General's command''.

''After 13 days campaigning, I have been elected from Amritsar with 1.25 lakh vote majority'', the BJP leader said.

''Politics is not a profession but a mission for me at a time when the people lost confidence in politicians'', Mr Siddhu added.

UNI