DNA Edit: Costly Hug – Cong will pay for Sidhu’s ‘statesmanship’ in Pakistan

Navjot Singh Sidhu has a penchant for grabbing headlines and the former cricketer-turned-politician did it once again, when he hugged Pakistan Army Chief, General Qamar Bajwa in front of the cameras. And, if that was not headline-worthy enough, the Congress MP decided to sit next to Masood Khan, the “president” of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. Given that Sidhu was in Pakistan and his behaviour was seen as representing India, his actions were both irresponsible and deplorable. The BJP has attacked its former party member, but it is safe to say that such attacks will not bother Sidhu. His aim, along with the Congress, was to project the party as one that desired peace as opposed to the so-called “anti-peace” and “anti-Pakistan” BJP. Such an action would not only go down well with Muslim voters, but also cash in on the pro-peace sentiment that is engulfing India at the moment, with the ascent of Imran Khan to the top post in Pakistan. 

The party hopes that such an action will portray the Congress as a party of “statesmen”, who were willing like the late former Prime Minister AB Vajpayee, to reach out across the border to extend the hand of friendship. Unfortunately for Sidhu and his party, their timing is all wrong. 2018 is not 1999. In that year, when Vajpayee did take the historic bus ride to meet Sharif, there was hope for peace. But since then, Kargil, Mumbai attack and Pathankot have hardened the Indian mind. Yes, Indians do wish Imran Khan and his country well and they do hope for some normalisation of relations, but it is too early to talk peace. This is what Sidhu does not realise and his actions are more likely to be seen both as “headline grabbing” and “pandering to Pakistan”. This is something he and his party simply cannot afford. 

The Congress party, too, seems to have now realised that Sidhu has overstepped the boundaries, and that is why though some leaders have supported his actions, the support has been muted. This silence does not bode well for them as the BJP is more than willing to attack them and galvanise Hindu voters, in particular, on the issue. And if the “Sidhuhug” does become a big enough issue, other parties that are looking for a “Grand Alliance” with the so-called Grand Old Party may well develop reservations sooner rather than later. This will put the Congress party in a difficult spot when it needs allies the most. The other problem for the party is that they have not articulated their domestic agenda well enough. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day speech, has clearly set out his party’s priorities and what his party will achieve. It is now up to the Congress party to come up with a vision of their own for India. Yes, the BJP-ruled states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are suffering from anti-incumbency, but the voters there are not likely to be wooed on the issue of “so-called peace” with Pakistan. For that, the Congress party needs to delve into local and hyper local issues like Amit Shah has done time and again for the BJP; and, that does not look like happening anytime soon. It may be time now for the party to take a more realistic look at 2019 and get its act together for staying in the reckoning.