New Delhi, August 21: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday launched a fresh salvo at Punjab cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu for hugging Pakistan Army Chief General Javed Qamar Bajwa during the swearing-in ceremony of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on August 18. BJP Spokesperson Sambit Patra during a press conference demanded an answer from the Congress president Rahul Gandhi for the Sidhu’s action.

Patra even blamed the Congress for running a parallel government. The BJP Spokesperson said, “It's sad that Navjot Sidhu has somewhat tried to implicate India in all this by saying Indians have small hearts. We condemn this. We want an answer on this not from Sidhu ji but from Rahul ji. Is Rahul ji trying to run a parallel Govt?”

Patra also took a dig at the Congress over the remarks of its leader Sandeep Dixit's last year remarks where he likened army chief General Bipin Rawat as ‘goon on the street’. The BJP spokesperson said, “So for Congress, our Army Chief is 'sadak ke gunde' and Pakistan Army Chief is 'sone de munde'?”

Earlier in the day, the Punjab cabinet minister justified hugging the Pakistan army chief citing past visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and late BJP veteran Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Pakistan. The Punjab cabinet minister said PM Modi visited Pakistan without invitation and why his patriotism was not questioned.

On Sunday, even Punjab Chief Minister also criticised his cabinet minister for hugging the Pakistan Army chief during the ceremony. Captain Singh said that the Sidhu should have refrained from showing any sort of affection towards Gen Bajwa as General Bajwa is responsible for the disturbing peace at the border due which many Indian soldiers lost their lives.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 21, 2018 03:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).