Sidhu calls Pak PM 'Bada Bhai', BJP, Congress colleagues slam him

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Malviya shared the video in which Sidhu can be seen hugging an official of Kartarpur Corridor

While tweeting the video, Amit Malviya took a dig at the Congress and said, "Rahul Gandhi's favourite Navjot Singh Sidhu calls Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan his "bada bhai". Last time he had hugged Gen Bajwa, Pakistan Army's Chief, heaped praises."

"Is it any surprise that the Gandhi siblings chose a Pakistan-loving Sidhu over veteran Amarinder Singh?" Amit Malviya said.

Reacting to his party colleague's remarks, Congress MP Manish Tewari wrote on Twitter that Pakistan PM Imran Khan "may be anybody’s elder brother but for India he is that cat’s paw of Pak Deep State ISI-Military combine that drones arms & narcotics into Punjab & sends terrorists on a daily basis across LOC in J&K".

"Have we forgotten martyrdom of our soldiers in Poonch so soon," asked Tewari.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said it was a serious matter of concern for Indians, opposition party sees terror groups such as the IS and the Boko Haram in Hindutva, while it finds a "bhai jaan" in Khan, apparently referring to Congress leader Salman Khurshid's statement in his latest book.

Lashing out at the Congress, Mahapatra said Congress uses such tactics as it still believes there is a section of people in India who will be happy with praise for Pakistan though there are no such people in India.

He also noted that Punjab needed a mature and patriotic government as it is a border state where Pakistan consistently foments trouble.

He accused the Congress of 'appeasement politics'.

Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal slammed Sidhu for "repeatedly insulting and demoralising the country's soldiers".

"They (Congress) should explain whether Sidhu's utterances are of his own accord or whether he speaks for the Gandhi family. Punjabis want to know whether the Gandhi family...  is again fomenting trouble in the state," a statement by Singh said.

AAP leader Raghav Chadha also joined the criticism, saying it is "deeply worrying that Punjab's ruling party and Chief Minister) are professing their love for Pak PM and Pakistan".

However, Sidhu dumped all the accusations by BJP when he was asked to comment. "Let the BJP say whatever they want," he said.