Punjab Congress To Split Again? Manish Tewari Terms Sidhu’s Trade With Pakistan Statement ‘Useless’

Maish Tewari said, “Until Pakistan stops sending terrorists to India and dropping drugs and weapons in our areas via drones, it is useless and futile to hold any trade-related talks with Pakistan."

Congress MP Manish Tewari and Punjab Congress Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu | PTI

New Delhi: Congress MP from Anandpur Sahib Manish Tewari has slammed Punjab Congress Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu over his statement on trade with Pakistan. Tewari termed Sidhu’s statement as “useless and futile” to initiate any trade related talks with Pakistan until they stop anti-India activities. 

As reported by ANI, Tewari said, “Until Pakistan stops sending terrorists to India and dropping drugs and weapons in our areas via drones, it is useless and futile to hold any trade-related talks with Pakistan."

Until Pakistan stops sending terrorists to India & dropping drugs and weapons in our areas via drones, it is useless and futile to hold any trade-related talks with Pakistan: Congress MP Manish Tewari on Navjot Singh Sidhu’s statement on trade with Pakistan pic.twitter.com/no6SFzrNfm

— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2021

Punjab Congress Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, while talking to media in Amritsar on Saturday said that good relations between India and Pakistan will increase trade. “If our friendship is increased with Pakistan then our business will also be increased. I admire our former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s scheme when he started Aman Eman Bus Sewa from India to Pakistan,” he said.

Sidhu further asked that if the Karachi border is open, why can not the Attari border be opened up for business. 

On the question of a possible alliance between Bharatiya Janata Party and Captain Amarinder Singh, Tewari said that the alliance will affect the state politics. "Captain has been a Congress leader for 20 years and has been the Chief Minister of Punjab for 9 and half years. Of course, the alliance will impact the politics in the State," Tewari said. 

After quitting the Congress party, Captain Amarinder Singh formed his own political party, Punjab Lok Congress, last month. He had announced that he will contest the election from his homeground, Patiala. 

Punjab is scheduled to undergo Assembly elections in 2022.