Navjot Singh Sidhu's advisors echo Pakistan's views on Kashmir, get slammed
Reacting to a news report which said that Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had warned Sidhu's advisors against making any statements on sensitive matters, BJP National Spokesperson Sambit Patra sought clarification from Rahul Gandhi about the pro-Pakistan statements being made by members of his party.
FollowBharatiya Janata Party on Monday slammed advisors of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Navjot Singh Sidhu for toeing Pakistan's line on Kashmir and making anti-national statements.
Reacting to a news report which said that Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had warned Sidhu's advisors against making any statements on sensitive matters, BJP National Spokesperson Sambit Patra sought clarification from Rahul Gandhi about the pro-Pakistan statements being made by members of his party.
Sidhu's advisors, Dr Pyare Lal Garg and Malwinder Singh Mali, had triggered a controversy over their reported statements. While Malwinder allegedly termed Kashmir as a separate State and India as an illegal occupant, Dr Pyare Lal is believed to have said that criticism of Pakistan is not in the interest of Punjab.
The BJP termed the views of the two recently-appointed advisors of Sidhu as shameful.
Responding to the remarks, the Punjab Chief Minister had termed the remarks are anti-national. He also reiterated that Kashmir was, is and will forever be an inalienable part of India.
Capt Amarinder went on to slam the leaders for toeing Islamabad's line.
Slamming Dr Pyare Lal, the chief minister reminded him that hundreds of Sikhs had lost their lives in the face of Pakistan-baked terrorism in the 1980s and 90s. Claiming that Sidhu's advisors may be disconnected from the ground reality, Capt Amarinder made it clear that they should not make irresponsible statements.
The Shiromani Akali Dal too slammed Sidhu and his advisors.
SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema said it was difficult to find fault with the advisors when Sidhu himself has in the past extended a hand of friendship towards Pakistan PM Imran Khan and hugged Pakistan Army chief when the entire nation stood together against the western neighbour.
Within the Congress too, there have been strong dissenting voices other than that of the Punjab Chief Minister.
National Spokesperson Manish Tewari urged Harish Rawat, AICC general secretary in charge of Punjab, to seriously introspect that those who do not consider J&K to be a part of India and others who have ostensibly Pro-Pakistan leanings should be a part of the party
It mocks all those who shed blood for India, he said.
Calling the remarks as objectionable, another Congress leader, Sandeep Dikshit advised Sidhu to distance himself from such advisors and tell such leaders to stop making comments on subjects that they have no knowledge of.
