AMRITSAR: Punjab cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu failed to appear before the commission investigating into the October 19 tragedy in which 59 people were mowed down by a train. He sent his written statement in a sealed envelope through his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu , who appeared before the commission to record her statement on Friday.Talking to TOI, Sidhu said he had sent his statement saying he was out of Punjab from October 17 to 20 and that there were no inputs that he could add to the commission’s proceedings. Jalandhar divisional commissioner B Purushartha, who is conducting the magisterial inquiry into the accident, said the commission was satisfied with Sidhu’s reply and had exempted him for future appearances.In a brief interaction with media, Navjot Kaur, who was the chief guest at the Dussehra festival held at Dhobi Ghat near Joda Phatak, said she had brought her husband’s written statement to hand over to the commission. When asked why had Sidhu not appeared before the commission despite being in the city, she replied, “He is busy in distributing compensation cheques to the victims. Whatever he had to say he had given in writing.”She refused to repond to questions related to her appearance before the commission.Purushartha said the commission had also examined the witness of divisional railway manager (DRM) of Ferozepur division and summoned other railway officers to appear before it on Monday.

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