The BJP on Tuesday hit out at cricketer-turned-Minister in the Congress Government in Punjab Navjot Singh Sidhu for hugging Pakistan’s Army Chief and asked Congress President Rahul Gandhi to explain his party leader’s conduct at the swearing-in-ceremony of new Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad.
“What are you doing, Rahul Gandhiij Have you opened a Pakistan desk in India,” asked BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra after Sidhu held a press conference to defend his hugging and comments in Islamabad.
“He tried to implicate India in some way. He tried to say India is not the one who talks peace and prosperity. Who gives him the license to say all that but Rahul Gandhi,” railed Patra.
Slamming Sidhu over his clarification, the BJP spokesperson said that Sidhu was briefing media at behest of Rahul . “We want Rahul Gandhi to answer. Instead of explaining why he hugged Bajwa, Sidhu is giving a long lecture. It is unbelievable how someone can hold a press conference in support of Pakistan.”
He also said what Sidhu did was against the ethos of India. Patra said Sidhu’s hugging army chief sends a very wrong message in the backdrop of what Paksitani army has done against India.
Prior to this on Saturday BJP had first attacked Punjab Minister for hugging Pakistan’s Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and for sitting beside the President of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) at the swearing in ceremony of new Prime Minister and demanded his suspension from the party 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 spokesperson Sambit Patra told reporters adding that he also sat next to PoK President Masood Khan.
lashing out at Sidhu, he said that before hugging Pakistan’’s Army Chief, did he not remember how their army killed innocent people and army men in Indiaij
The BJP spokesperson’s remarks came after Sidhu’s participation in the ceremony and his statement to the media there that he hoped ties between New Delhi and Islamabad would improve with Khan at the helm.