BJP attacks Congress over Navjot Sidhu's presence at Imran Khan's swearing-in ceremony

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attacked Sidhu after he was seen present at other cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan's swearing-in ceremony.

Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra asked whether Sidhu took permission of the Congress party before attending the ceremony in Pakistan.

Patra said: "Did Navjot Singh Sidhu take permission from the Congress Party before deciding to visit Pakistan to attend Imran Khan's oath-taking ceremony?"

Criticising Sidhu for hugging Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Patra said the Congress party leaders embrace those people of Pakistan who escalate terrorist activities in India.

Patra also asked whether Congress president Rahul Gandhi agrees with Sidhu's visit and if not, is he taking any step against his party leader.

"Are the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi in agreement with Sidhu's activity and if not, is he going to take step against him or suspend him from the party?" the BJP leader questioned.

However, terming Khan's invitation to attend the swearing-in ceremony as a "huge honour", Sidhu had earlier said his visit to Pakistan will be apolitical.

Sidhu was quoted by ANI as saying, "It's a huge honour for me. It's a personal invitation [for Imran Khan's swearing in] from him and not a political one."

"I respect the foreign policy of the Govt and the country, but this is a personal invitation [Imran Khan's swearing in]. I believe sports persons and artists break barriers," the agency quoted Sidhu.

Former Pakistan cricket team captain Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party secured the highest number of seats in last month's General Election.

In his address to the nation following his victory, Khan, the then Prime Minister-elect, said Pakistan will take two steps to develop friendly relation with India if the latter takes one.

He said: "The leadership of Pakistan and India now need to come to the table to resolve this and end the blame games. We are stuck at square one.

"If India comes and takes one step towards us, we will take two steps toward them. Right now it is one sided where India is constantly just blaming us," said Khan.

India has been blaming Pakistan for exporting terrorism through the border areas of Kashmir. Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had even said that talks and terrorism can't go together.