Sidhu tried to enter ‘forbidden zone of diplomacy’: BJP

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 19

The BJP on Sunday berated the Congress for revoking the suspension of senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar and also accused Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu of trying to enter the “forbidden zone of diplomacy reserved only for the Central Government” during his controversial visit to Pakistan. 

Upping the ante against Sidhu, BJP spokesman Sambit Patra said diplomacy was “always the duty of the Central Government and no state government could ever enter into it”.

“No chief minister, no minister of a state can ever enter the zone of diplomacy. What Navjot Singh Sidhu tried to do is enter into the forbidden zone reserved only for the Central Government through ‘pappi’ and ‘jhaphi’ (a kiss and a hug).

“This is absolute immaturity, when you go and hug the army chief of Pakistan it sends out a message. While India maintains strictly that Pakistan’s deep state is involved in killing of innocent Indian citizens and jawans, to hug him and say that you hugged him because he talked peace is why we are asking Congress president Rahul Gandhi to explain the double standards of his party leaders,” said Patra in his renewed attack against Sidhu.

However, some foreign affairs experts have questioned Patra’s logic citing West Bengal’s role in India’s foreign policy with Bangladesh and of Tamil Nadu with Sri Lanka.

Sidhu said when Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa walked to him to greet and hug him, he reciprocated the gesture when he was informed about the proposal to provide free access to Sikh devotees to historic Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, one of their holiest of holy shrines.

Meanwhile, Patra again demanded to know whether he had taken permission from Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for the visit. 

Though as per some political observers Sidhu, as a legislator, had sought permission from the Centre, which was given and perceived as an attempt to keep communication channels open with Pakistan.

On being pointed about the Centre’s clearance, Patra said: “This is a sovereign country and anyone trying to get a visa or a passport for any other country is something which should not be seen under the ambit of diplomacy.”