Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday courted controversy after he reportedly called Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan his bada bhai (elder brother) during his visit to Kartarpur Sahib.
His visit to Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan came two days after he was left out of Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi’s entourage visiting the shrine, with a government official blaming it on some “technical glitch”.
A purported video of Sidhu being welcomed by a Pakistani official on behalf of Khan has gone viral. In the video, the Congress leader is heard saying Khan is like a “bada bhai” to him.
The BJP took no time to target the Congress, alleging that the opposition party sees terror groups like IS and Boko Haram in Hindutva while it finds a “bhai jaan” in Khan.
Sharing the video, BJP IT department head Amit Malviya tweeted, “Rahul Gandhi’s favourite Navjot Singh Sidhu calls Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan his ‘bada bhai’. Last time he had hugged Gen Bajwa, Pakistan Army’s Chief, heaped praises. Is it any surprise that the Gandhi siblings chose a Pakistan loving Sidhu over veteran Amarinder Singh?”
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra, calling the development “a serious matter of concern for Indians”, claimed that there was a larger design at work, and Sidhu’s comments were linked to a number of Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, criticising Hindutva.
Referring to Congress leader Salman Khurshid’s statement in his latest book, Patra said the opposition party sees terror groups such as the ISIS and the Boko Haram in Hindutva while it finds a “bhai jaan” in Khan. He also noted that Sidhu had earlier too praised Imran Khan and even hugged Pakistan army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa during a trip to the country.
Stating that Punjab is a border state where Pakistan tries to foment troubles, Patra asserted that the state needs a “mature and patriotic leadership.”
Meanwhile, reacting to the BJP’s criticism of Sidhu, Pargat Singh, who had accompanied the Punjab Congress chief to Pakistan Saturday, said the BJP should think twice before handing out certificates of nationalism.
Speaking to mediapersons after returning from Kartarpur Sahib, Pargat said that the land of Kartarpur Sahib conveys the message of mutual love and harmony of Guru Nanak Dev but sadly the BJP is not shying away from playing sordid political games here too. He asked where the BJP leaders were when their Prime Minister Narendra Modi had gone to Pakistan uninvited to celebrate the birthday of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
In 2018, Sidhu had faced severe criticism for hugging Pakistan’s Army General Qamar Javed Bajwa and sharing the stage with the president of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) during Imran Khan’s swearing-in ceremony. The Congress leader, defending his action, had said that his visit to the neighbouring country was not political and he went there on the invitation of his “friend” Imran Khan.
Imran Khan had come out in support of Sidhu saying those targeting the politician “were doing a disservice to peace in the subcontinent.”
Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday courted controversy after he reportedly called Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan his bada bhai (elder brother) during his visit to Kartarpur Sahib. His visit to Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan came two days after he was left out of Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi’s entourage visiting the shrine, with a government official blaming it on some “technical glitch”. A purported video of Sidhu being welcomed by a Pakistani official on behalf of Khan has gone viral. In the video, the Congress leader is heard saying Khan is like a “bada bhai” to him. The BJP took no time to target the Congress, alleging that the opposition party sees terror groups like IS and Boko Haram in Hindutva while it finds a “bhai jaan” in Khan. Sharing the video, BJP IT department head Amit Malviya tweeted, “Rahul Gandhi’s favourite Navjot Singh Sidhu calls Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan his ‘bada bhai’. Last time he had hugged Gen Bajwa, Pakistan Army’s Chief, heaped praises. Is it any surprise that the Gandhi siblings chose a Pakistan loving Sidhu over veteran Amarinder Singh?” BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra, calling the development “a serious matter of concern for Indians”, claimed that there was a larger design at work, and Sidhu’s comments were linked to a number of Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, criticising Hindutva. Referring to Congress leader Salman Khurshid’s statement in his latest book, Patra said the opposition party sees terror groups such as the ISIS and the Boko Haram in Hindutva while it finds a “bhai jaan” in Khan. He also noted that Sidhu had earlier too praised Imran Khan and even hugged Pakistan army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa during a trip to the country. Stating that Punjab is a border state where Pakistan tries to foment troubles, Patra asserted that the state needs a “mature and patriotic leadership.” Meanwhile, reacting to the BJP’s criticism of Sidhu, Pargat Singh, who had accompanied the Punjab Congress chief to Pakistan Saturday, said the BJP should think twice before handing out certificates of nationalism. Speaking to mediapersons after returning from Kartarpur Sahib, Pargat said that the land of Kartarpur Sahib conveys the message of mutual love and harmony of Guru Nanak Dev but sadly the BJP is not shying away from playing sordid political games here too. He asked where the BJP leaders were when their Prime Minister Narendra Modi had gone to Pakistan uninvited to celebrate the birthday of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. In 2018, Sidhu had faced severe criticism for hugging Pakistan’s Army General Qamar Javed Bajwa and sharing the stage with the president of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) during Imran Khan’s swearing-in ceremony. The Congress leader, defending his action, had said that his visit to the neighbouring country was not political and he went there on the invitation of his “friend” Imran Khan. Imran Khan had come out in support of Sidhu saying those targeting the politician “were doing a disservice to peace in the subcontinent.”