The controversy stoked by Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu by hugging Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa refuses to die down with the state BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Shwait Malik saying the issue would be raised in the state Assembly during the Monsoon Session, and in Parliament during its next Session.
Malik, who was here to collect the urns containing ashes of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, said: “The BJP will raise the issue in the Punjab Assembly and seek explanation from Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on the conduct of his minister.”
He said the Congress is a divided house on the Sidhu issue with the Chief Minister disapproving of his behaviour and the Congress taking a contrarian position backing him.
He said Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar owed an explanation to the people with regard to his support to his party colleague on hugging the Pakistan Army chief who had blood of Indians on his hands.
Malik congratulated Amarinder for publicly disapproving of Sidhu’s conduct, but said he would have to take a demonstrable action against the leader to give credence to his stand.
He said the issue would also be raised in Parliament at a convenient time as the matter pertained to national security. The matter would not be allowed to die down, he added.
“The questionable conduct of the Punjab minister compromising India’s dignity and security by giving credibility to Pakistan is beyond imagination,” Malik said, urging the Centre to get the matter probed.
He accused the Congress of having double standards on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.
He said the ashes of the former PM would be immersed in the Beas and Ravi. The urns of ashes will be taken from
Amritsar airport to the Beas and Ravi in a procession by BJP and SAD workers, and members from various sections of society.
