Congress leader and Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has continued his unbridled Pakistan love without any context about how Islamabad has promoted terrorism against India. In highly surcharged atmosphere with IAF pilot Abhinandan in Pakistan custody, Sidhu again wrote an open letter where he virtually went against the overwhelming national consensus that Pakistan has to walk the talk regarding destroying terror mechanisms if they want talks with India. Earlier Sidhu was ousted from 'The Kapil Sharma Show' after he failed to blame Pakistan for the heinous Pulwama attack where 40 CRPF men were killed.
"I stand by my conviction that dialogue and diplomatic pressure will count for a great deal in seeking a long-term solution to the presence and practice of terror outfits that operate within and across the border," the cricketer-turned-politician said in a two-page statement titled "We have a choice." "The solution to terror is peace, development and progress and not unemployment, hatred and fear," he said. He also raised domestic issues like death of Gauri Lankesh, Kalburgi etc, to drag domestic politics inside a bilateral issue. Often Pakistan tries to raise domestic issues in India to try to blunt New Delhi's legitimate claims and Sidhu's statement in this regard was hardly distinguishable.
Even after Pakistan bowed under sustained Indian pressure and announced to give back Indian pilot, Sidhu again credited Imran Khan. He tweeted tagging Imran Khan, "Every noble act makes a way for itself... your goodwill gesture is ‘a cup of joy’ for a billion people, a nation rejoices...I am overjoyed for his parents and loved ones."
Sidhu's blatant Pakistani love even embarrassed his party, which disassociated itself from Punjab Minister's comments.
"There is a time to act and there is a time to talk. Dialogue can only take place when the atmosphere is conducive for dialogue and the current atmosphere is not conducive for a dialogue," Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters.
Asked about the comments made by Sidhu, he said, "If Mr Navjot Singh Sidhu has an opinion, that is his personal opinion and it is not the opinion of the Indian National Congress." Earlier Sidhu by hugging Pakistani Army Chief Bajwa during Imran Khan's swearing-in-ceremony had raised eyebrows.
With PTI inputs
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "File Picture")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}