As the BJP government crossed the 300-mark and is set to return to power for the second time, Punjab Chief Minister Captian Amarinder Singh took a dig at Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu saying “Indians, especially the servicemen, will not tolerate hugging the Pakistani army chief”.
This was with reference to Sidhu’s hug to Pakistan’s army chief during his visit to Pakistan for the swearing-in of Prime Minister Imran Khan in August last year.
Speaking on Congress’ Sunil Jakhar trailing from Gurdaspur, Singh said even he was confused why the people had given preference to an actor over experience.
Actor Sunny Deol was leading against Jakhar from Gurdaspur.
Many had criticised Sidhu for the hug. The Congress leader, however, chose to play it down saying it was just a “jhappi” (hug).
Sidhu had also travelled to Pakistan for the ground-breaking ceremony of Kartarpur Sahib corridor.
His decision to attend the ceremony had irked Amarinder Singh who had turned down the invite over the Pathankot terror attacks.
Earlier last week, the Chief Minister himself publicly criticised Sidhu for damaging the Congress’ poll prospects with his ill-timed comments against him and the party leadership in the state.
“If he was a real Congressman, he should have chosen a better time to air his grievances instead of just ahead of voting in Punjab,” said the Chief Minister in an informal interaction with reporters.
Sidhu had accused the Chief Minister of being responsible for the denial of a poll ticket to his wife Navjot Kaur from Chandigarh.