The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reacted strongly to Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu’s statement in which he has compared Pakistan with the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Sidhu was in Kasauli to participate in the 7th Khushwant Singh Literature Fest when he said, “If I go to Tamil Nadu, I don’t understand the language. Not that I don’t like the food, but I can’t take it for long. Culture is totally different. But if I travel to Pakistan there is no difficulty. Language is same and everything there is just amazing.”
Hitting out at Congress, the BJP sought Sidhu’s resignation as party leader GVL Narasimha Rao on Sunday demanded that Sidhu is sacked.
“We know your party loves Pakistan and your members sing its praises. Rahul Gandhi should apologise to every south Indian and make Navjot Singh Sidhu apologise too. Sidhu should be sacked,” said Narasimha Rao.
AIADMK also slammed Sidhu for comparing Pakistan with Tamil Nadu as its spokesperson Muralidaran Shivalingam said, “In a lighter note, let Sidhu go to Pakistan if he likes it so much. There is no point taking his statement seriously, he is a comedian and when he was with the BJP he abused Sonia Gandhi and now he is falling at her feet. The same people had criticised the AIADMK culture of falling at Anna’s feet. Just take his comment with a pinch of salt and not make this a huge issue or subject of national debate.”