The Bharatiya Janata Party yesterday attacked Punjab Culture Minister and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu for hugging Pakistan’s army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and for sitting beside the president of Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir at the swearing in ceremony of new Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The BJP asked the Congress to suspend Sidhu immediately.
The ruling party also used the opportunity to attack the Congress over statements made by some of its leaders during their visits to Pakistan and asked Congress president Rahul Gandhi whether Sidhu had his permission to go there and whether he would suspend him immediately.
“Sidhu during his visit to Pakistan to attend the swearing in ceremony of Imran Khan as Pakistan’s prime minister hugged Pakistan’s army chief,” BJP spokesman Sambit Patra told reporters adding that he also sat next to Masood Khan, president of Pakistan-ruled Kashmir.
“It is not an ordinary thing. Sidhu is not an ordinary man but a minister in the Punjab government. And every Indian has taken this issue very seriously,” Patra said asking why Sidhu did not object when the Azad Kashmir president was made to sit next to him.
“Rahulji, did you grant permission to Sidhu to go to Pakistan? Will you suspend him before his arrival in the country,” Patra asked.
Slamming Sidhu, the BJP spokesman said that before hugging the Pakistan’s army chief, did he not remember how their army killed innocent people and soldiers in India.
Raking up the statements of several Congress leaders visiting Pakistan and praising that country, Patra said, “Salman Khurshid went to Pakistan and said the Narendra Modi government did not want peace with Pakistan. Even Mani Shankar Aiyar in an interview in Pakistan in November, 2015 said that the Modi government should be removed.
“In June this year, Ghulam Nabi Azad also questioned the army’s action in Jammu and Kashmir after he said that the armed forces kill more civilians than terrorists.”
Patra said another Congress leader Saifuddin Soz had said that he stood with Gen Pervez Musharraf and demanded an independent Kashmir.
“And today Sidhuji said that he wants to thank the people of Pakistan. For what does he want to say ‘thank you’ to them? For sending terrorists, for killing innocents, for killing our soldiers?” Patra asked.
The BJP leader also slammed Gandhi and Congress leaders for questioning the ‘surgical strike’ and disrespecting the army chief of the country.
“Your party leaders disrespect the army chief of the country by calling him a street goon, while your leader (Sidhu) believes Pakistan’s army chief that they want peace,” Patra added.
Patra’s remarks came after Sidhu’s participation in the ceremony and his remarks to media there that he hoped ties between New Delhi and Islamabad would improve with Imran Khan at the helm.
Praising Khan while speaking to the state-run PTV, Sidhu said: “A new morning is here in Pakistan with a new government which can change the destiny of the country.” He hoped that Khan’s victory would be good for the peace process between the neighbours.
Sidhu was among the notable guests invited to the swearing-in ceremony of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief at the Aiwan-e-Sadr (the President House) in Islamabad.
“I have come to Pakistan on my friend’s (Khan’s) invitation. These are very special moments,” Sidhu said after arriving in the country on Friday.
“Athletes and artists erase distances (between countries)... I have come here bearing the message of love, and prayers for Pakistanis.”
Navjot Singh Sidhu gestures as he arrives at the Wagah border on his way to Islamabad.
