Navjot Singh Sidhu Says PM Modi 'Jealous' as He Was Not Invited at Imran Khan's Swearing-In; Rakes up 'Godhra Riots' Charge
The remarks of Sidhu comes in the backdrop of top BJP leaders reiterating the 'pro-Pakistan' charge against the Congress in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.
Chandigarh, November 17: In his most stinging attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi so far, Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu said the former is jealous of him as he was not invited at the swearing-in ceremony of Pakistan's recently elected PM, Imran Khan.
"Is the PM jealous that he was not called (for Imran Khan’s oath ceremony)," Sidhu asked. Further taking a jibe at Modi, he added, "Is he jealous that he went to Pakistan uninvited (for Nawaz Sharif’s birthday)?" Navjot Singh Sidhu on Campaign Blitzkrieg, Will Hold 20 Rallies in MP, Chhattisgarh.
The remarks of Sidhu comes in the backdrop of top BJP leaders reiterating the "pro-Pakistan" charge against the Congress in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. The party has been accused of "sending" Sidhu to attend Khan's oath-taking event, despite Indian soldiers being killed in cross-border firing.
Sidhu said the decision to visit Pakistan was his personal, and did not involve the party. He had received a personal invite from Khan -- his cricket-era contemporary -- as the duo have remained friends over the past three decades.
Rakes up 'Godhra Riots' Charge
Furthering his political assault against the Prime Minister, Sidhu raked up the "Godhra riots" case dating back to 2002, where Modi - the then Gujarat CM - was accused of failing to crackdown on mobs targeting the minorities.
"I’ll not prove my patriotism to people whose name came up in Godhra (riots case)," he said. Supreme Court to Hear Zakia Jafri's Plea Against 'Clean Chit to Narendra Modi' on Monday.
Notably, Modi was cleared of all charges in the post-Godhra riots by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in 2012. Pleas challenging the SIT clean chit to the PM have been rejected by the Gujarat High Court. Two of such petitions - filed by riot victim Zakia Jafri and activist Teesta Setalvad's NGO - will be heard by the Supreme Court on Monday.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 17, 2018 04:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).