The BJP on Tuesday accused Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu of demeaning India, speaking as an agent of Pakistan and demoralising the soldiers of the country by attempting to “justify” hugging Pakistani Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and claiming that Pakistan is willing to allow Sikh pilgrims access to a gurudwara on its territory.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, “Sidhu has a lot of admirers...Somebody of that stature going there and then hugging the chief of the army, an army about which, in India, we have very clear feelings. It certainly has an impact on soldiers and people in the (defence) ministry. The public response is also similar. It is demoralising. I wish Sidhu had avoided it.”
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra also demanded a response from Congress president Rahul Gandhi over the issue, saying Sidhu has been speaking on the matter with his permission as Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has already condemned him over his conduct in Pakistan during the swearing-in ceremony of Imran Khan recently.
He also accused Sidhu of meeting External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj deceptively as she had given appointment to former Union Minister M S Gill with whom, Patra alleged Sidhu tagged along.
Patra said Swaraj reprimanded Sidhu in their meeting on Monday for his conduct in Pakistan.