Navjot Singh Sidhu's pic with pro-Khalistan activist triggers fresh controversy; BJP calls him 'Pakistan agent'
The Congress leader and Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has been criticised for his second visit to Pakistan for the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor have now landed into fresh controversy. The cricketer-turned-politician has stepped into fresh controversy after his photo with pro-Khalistan activist Gopal Singh Chawla emerged online. The picture was posted by Chawla on the Facebook page with the Punjab minister.
Sidhu praised Pakistan PM Imran Khan at the event after which he was attacked by main opposition and ruling Bhartiya Janta Party. The saffron party reacted to the Chawla's photo with Mr Sidhu, "Such malicious tactics on Pakistani soil cannot be ignored," said Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. The BJP minister also said that Navjot Singh Sidhu should maintain distance in such meetings.
Meanwhile, The union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who also attended the ceremony attacked Sidhu on his extended love with Pakistan PM Imran Khan. On Thursday, taking a jibe at Sidhu, Union Minister Badal said, “Sidhu was hugging the General who is killing our men. He even spent 3 days with him there. Even his photo is out with the terrorist. He has become a Pakistan agent after going there. Rahul Gandhi should clearly state his stand on this.”
Sidhu's picture with Chawla may go well for him as he (Chawla) heads the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, that provoked anger in India. Chawla recently stopped Indian officials from visiting a Gurudwara in Lahore to meet Sikh pilgrims from India.
Eventually, Chawla's name has also cropped up in a grenade attack at the Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar earlier this month that took three lives. Chawla is also believed to be close to terrorist Hafiz Saeed and has also been photographed with him.
First published: 29 November 2018, 16:45 IST