'Who Gave Him This Right': BJP Slams Navjot Singh Sidhu For Praising Imran Khan

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday lashed out at Congress leader and former Punjab minister Navjot Sidhu for praising Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan at the Kartarpur corridor inauguration across the international border and allegedly seeking to present Pakistani leadership on a higher pedestal than India's.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra criticised Sidhu's remarks praising Imran Khan and describing him as the king of hearts. Sidhu had said: "Sikandar (Alexander) had won the world with fear and you won the heart all over the world."

Patra alleged that by making such remarks, Sidhu sought to show Pakistan and Khan on a higher pedestal than India.

He said Sidhu also reportedly projected himself as a representative of 14 crore Sikhs.

"He was invited as a chief guest there. He was not part of the official 'jatha' which went from India. Who gave him this right," Patra questioned.

Rajya Sabha MP and BJP leader Subramanian Swamy also hit out at Sidhu for his closeness to Khan. Sidhu has been criticised for praising Khan and hugging Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa during Khan's swearing-in ceremony last August. Speaking to News Nation, Swamy said that he is willing to offer Sidhu to Pakistan in exchange for 'good Muslims' from the neighbouring country.

Swamy said: "I appeal to the Pakistan government to take Navjot Singh Sidhu and give us good Muslims from there in exchange offer."

Sidhu, on Saturday, described the opening of the Kartarpur corridor as an ointment on the wounds the people who witnessed bloodbath during the partition. He thanked the prime ministers of India and Pakistan for the historic move.

During his address at the inauguration ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor, Sidhu said no one can deny "my friend" Imran Khan's contribution in making the opening of the corridor possible.

"Imran Khan has made history," he said.