If visiting Pakistan anti-nationalism then what did PM Modi do in 2015, Cong asks BJP

Countering BJP's criticism of Navjot Singh Sidhu's visit to Pakistan, the Congress on Monday sought to put Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the dock over his meeting with former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif in Lahore in December 2015.

The BJP has been targetting the Congress for Sidhu, who is a minister in the Punjab government, for visiting Pakistan and "ignoring the sentiments of the people" during the day the nation was mourning the demise of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

NEW DELHI: Countering BJP's criticism of Navjot Singh Sidhu's visit to Pakistan, the Congress on Monday sought to put Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the dock over his meeting with former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif in Lahore in December 2015. The BJP has been targetting the Congress for Sidhu, who is a minister in the Punjab government, visiting Pakistan and "ignoring the sentiments of the people" during the day the nation was mourning the demise of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Addressing a press conference here, Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill asked the saffron party that if visiting Pakistan is termed as "anti-nationalism" then what did Prime Minister Narendra Modi do in December 2015. "If going to Pakistan is equivalent to be declared as an anti-national, then Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah should be first declared the biggest anti-nationals of this country," Shergill said pointing towards a photo of Modi embracing Sharif when he landed in Lahore on his way back home after a day-long trip to Afghanistan on December 25, 2015. Shergill alleged Modi preferred the wedding of Sharif's daughter over the funeral of soldiers. "The Prime Minister visited Pakistan when the security forces were facing the bloodiest year in the history of Independent India. This was worst," he said. Shergill said if the BJP is "so concerned" about people from India visiting Pakistan, the Centre should give an undertaking that the Prime Minister will never go to the neighbouring country, meet its leaders or hug them. The Congress leader said the BJP should have reminded its leaders of "anti-nationalism" and "patriotism" when Modi attended the wedding of Sharif daughter. "In television debates, the BJP leaders talk about teaching Pakistan a lesson whereas the reality is they don't miss any opportunity to dine with its leaders," he said. Shergill reiterated Congress' stand that Sidhu went to Pakistan on a personal invitation and not a politician or Punjab cabinet minister. Sidhu attended Imran Khan's swearing-in ceremony as a cricketer and a friend and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has already cleared the party's stand over it, he said. Sidhu was the only Indian who attended Khan's swearing-in ceremony on August 18. During the ceremony, he hugged Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, which he later defended saying what was he supposed to do if someone says we belong to the same culture and talks of opening the route to the historic Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib.