CHANDIGARH: Navjot Singh Sidhu does it again. Known for courting controversy often, the Punjab Congress chief on Saturday put the party in a tough spot by calling Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan his "big brother".
The cricketer-turned-politician made the comment while visiting the Darbar Sahib gurdwara in Kartarpur, Pakistan.
A video of Sidhu has surfaced in which he is seen welcomed by a Pakistani official on behalf of Imran Khan. The Congress leader can be heard saying Khan was like a bada bhai (Big Brother) to him and he "loved him a lot".
Reacting to Sidhu's remarks, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said it is a matter of concern for crores of Indians. "Sidhu had praised Khan and Pakistan earlier too and had hugged its army chief Bajwa during an earlier trip to the neighbouring country," said Patra.
However, Sidhu's loyalists readily countered the charges. Punjab Sports Minister Pargat Singh, who is considered close to Sidhu, said: "When PM Modi goes to Pakistan he is a 'Desh Premi', when Sidhu goes, he is 'Desh Drohi'. Cannot I call you a brother? We follow Guru Nanak Dev’s philosophy."
MP Gautam Gambhir wondered if Sidhu remember that Pakistani terrorists killed more than 40 civilians and jawans in Kashmir in the last month.