BJP attacks Sidhu again

The BJP on Tuesday upped the ante over Navjot Singh Sidhu's Islamabad visit for Imran Khan's swearing-in with a protest march but the Paksitan prime minister came out in support of the cricketer-turned-politician, saying those who target him are "doing a great disservice to peace".

Criticising Sidhu, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told reporters that there are people within the Congress who are trying to promote the interests of Pakistan in India.

"It is sad that Sidhu has somewhat tried to implicate India by saying Indians have small hearts. We condemn this. We want an answer on this not from Sidhu but from Rahul Gandhi. Is Rahul Gandhi trying to run a parallel government?" Patra said.

Sidhu was in the eye of the storm when he attended Khan's swearing-in ceremony where he was hugged by Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Sidhu, who had received the Centre's permission to attend the function, was also seen sitting with Pak-Occupied-Kashmir Prime Minister Masood Khan.

"Going to Pakistan was against the ethos of India and even then Sidhu holds a press conference to justify his visit to Pakistan. Our question is on whose behest (he visited Pakistan)... of course at the behest of Rahul Gandhi," the BJP spokesman said.

As a lawyer filed a sedition case against him and criticism from right-wing outfits intensified, the Pakistan prime minister came in support of Sidhu and tweeted, "I want to thank Sidhu for coming to Pakistan for my oath-taking. He was an ambassador of peace and was given amazing love and affection by the people of Pakistan. Those in India who targeted him are doing a great disservice to peace in the subcontinent — without peace, our people cannot progress."

Meanwhile, a video in which a fringe group activist is seen announcing a reward of Rs 5 lakh on the head of Sidhu has surfaced.