BJP attacks Sidhu for hugging Pakistan Army chief

New Delhi, Aug 18: The BJP on Saturday attacked Punjab Minister and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu 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 Imran Khan and demanded his suspension from the party immediately.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also used the opportunity to attack the Congress party 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 spokesperson Sambit Patra told reporters adding that he also sat next to PoK President Masood Khan.

“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,” he said asking why Sidhu did not object when the PoK President was made to sit next to him. Firing salvos at the Congress President, Patra said, “Rahulji, did you grant permission to Sidhu to go to Pakistan? Will you suspend him before his arrival in the country?”.

Slamming Sidhu, he said that before hugging Pakistan’s Army Chief, did he not remember how their army killed innocent people and armymen in India.The BJP spokesperson’s remarks came after Sidhu’s participation in the ceremony and his remarks to the media there that he hoped ties between New Delhi and Islamabad would improve with Imran Khan at the helm. (IANS)