Congress’ Punjab minister Navjot Sidhu’s love for Pakistan have been drawing severe criticism in India after he went to attend Imran Khan’s oath-taking ceremony. Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh had stated earlier that he does not support visits to Pakistan as the country has been fuelling terrorism in India. However, the Congress party had maintained the stand that Sidhu’s visit to Pakistan and his actions there have been done his personal capacity and the party has nothing to do with it.
Sidhu had visited Pakistan again for the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor on the Pakistani side. News channel News 18 has claimed in a report that while Congress has been maintaining that Sidhu’s visit is in his personal capacity, a video accessed by them shows otherwise.
The video clip, aired by News 18 shows Sidhu stating that he is delighted to go to Pakistan to visit the holy Sikh shrines and even his party leaders agree to his visit, as Ahmed Patel and Rahul Gandhi have sent a special plane for him.
#NewsAlert — @sherryontopp’s visit was not personal; @RahulGandhi ensured that Sidhu went to Pakistan. A special plane was sent by Rahul to enable the visit. #KartarpurCorridor #KartarpurWar #TheRightStand with @AnchorAnandN. pic.twitter.com/a805zY7Den
— News18 (@CNNnews18) November 29, 2018
The video claimed to be taken in Madhya Pradesh where Sidhu was campaigning for the state assembly elections, shows Sidhu stating that a special plane has been sent enable him to attend the Kartarpur ceremony. The news report also raises the question of whether Congress is expecting political help from Pakistan.
Sidhu had crossed the Wagah-Atari order on November 27 to attend the Kartarpur ceremony.
Many people on social media have raised questions for the Congress party over the issue.
Congress claim that Sidhu’s visit to Pakistan was ‘personal’ falls flat! @sherryontopp admits on camera that @ahmedpatel & @RahulGandhi sent a special plane for his Pakistan visit. Making a tamasha of India on enemy soil & you dare to question us when we call you ANTINATIONAL?! pic.twitter.com/UMB8Q8r9J0
— Priti Gandhi (@MrsGandhi) November 29, 2018
Have said it earlier that whatever siddhu is doing and speaking, is on instructions and orders of #OutonBail @rahulgandhi .
Now hear it from horse’s mouth. pic.twitter.com/j2bJnEVyer
— Suresh Nakhua ?? (@SureshNakhua) November 29, 2018
Earlier, the Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar had defended Sidhu’s Pakistan visit and hugging their army chief by calling it his ‘sportsman spirit’. Congress’ political motives involving Pakistan have been questioned before when senior leader Mani Shankar Iyer was found saying ‘Inhe Hataiye Humein Le Ayiye’ ( Remove Modi and bring us to power) at an event in Pakistan.
Sidhu has already stoked controversy before he left for Pakistan by calling Imran Khan an ‘Angel’ on the anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai attacks. During his visit, he was also seen posing for photographs and interacting with Khalistani terrorist Gopal Chawla.
