The controversy over Navjot Singh Sidhu바카라s recent trip to Islamabad indicates a growing sense of unease among the right-wing hardliners in the ruling BJP. But the move to 바카라name and shame바카라 him also exposes the Congress바카라 paranoia of yielding ground to the nationalists on the Pakistan question, especially on an election year.
The growing criticism of Sidhu바카라s 바카라warm hug바카라 to Pakistani army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa had been seen by his critics as an unpatriotic act. This has also led to a demand that the cricketer cum politician, who is now a minister in the Punjab government, should resign from his post.
However, the Sidhu hug to the Pakistani army chief should be seen in its context. Even countries that had been at war with each other shake hands when the occasion demands. The warm embrace of Bajwa by the former cricketer should have been seen as a gesture of civility and nothing more.
Moreover, despite the rising criticism, it would not alter the situation at the Line of Control or bring an immediate change in Pakistan바카라s policy towards India. It could only happen through sustained dialogue between the two neighbours to tackle their outstanding issues and with a firm commitment from Islamabad to make no compromises with terror groups working against Delhi from its soil.
One may have a different view on whether Sidhu should have avoided hugging the Pakistani army chief in public. But it should not be seen as an attempt on his part to condone Pakistan바카라s policy towards India or showing disrespect to Indian soldiers or their families.
Rather, Sidhu바카라s visit to Pakistan should be seen in the changed scenario and which is also in synch with the Modi바카라s government바카라s recent gesture towards Pakistan.
Sidhu바카라s criticism from BJP hardliners could be understood as the party continues to advocate no talks with Pakistan until it ends terrorism as a policy towards India. But the Congress바카라s reaction on this controversial issue has been baffling. His detractors within and outside the party might have taken this opportunity to cut the high-flying politician to size. However, the Congress leadership should have kept the political and diplomatic fallout of Sidhu바카라s visit in mind before joining the sections who are crying for his blood.
Indications suggest that Sidhu바카라s decision to attend Pakistan바카라s new Prime Minister Imran Khan바카라s inaugural ceremony was taken with large doses of salt by the Congress leadership. Perhaps policymakers in the party were more worried on whether the visit would Congress as a party 바카라not tough enough 바카라 to deal with Pakistan on an election year as the BJP.
But the Congress could have taken the moral high ground and showcased his visit as an indication of its desire for peace with Pakistan. Instead, it hit the panic button soon after pictures and reports of the Sidhu-Bajwa hug started circulating in the social media and publicly pulled him up.
Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, two other Indian cricketing icons who also received personal invites from Imran to attend his inaugural ceremony, might have had their own reasons to politely decline the invitation.
But the Congress party should have praised Sidhu for showing political maturity in going to Pakistan. Instead, its criticism of its Punjab minister shows on the issue of dealing with its tricky neighbor, the Congress not only lacks imagination but has no policy of its own that is any different from the one being advocated by BJP hardliners바카라no talks or engagement with Pakistan.
It should be kept in mind that Sidhu바카라s visit was in consonance of India바카라s current policy towards Pakistan. PM Modi had called up Imran Khan much before it was clear that he had the requisite numbers to be elected as Pakistan바카라s new prime minister.
Modi바카라s gesture clearly indicated to Imran and his party colleagues that India was willing to ignore allegations of malpractices questioning the legitimacy of his emergence as a leader of the largest party in Pakistan바카라s parliament. Rather the Indian PM welcomed his election and hoped that there will be a change in Pakistan바카라s policy especially, in dealing with terrorism emanating from its soil.
The Sidhu visit to Pakistan therefore, should be seen for what it was meant to be바카라 a friendly gesture to another friend in the cricketing world and who now happens to be Pakistan바카라s Prime Minister. But the entire visit is now being seen through the controversial hug between Sidhu and Bajwa. Unfortunately, the Congress is as much at fault for perpetuating this negative image of the Punjab minister as much as the BJP.
