Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu with pro-Khalistani activist Gopal Singh Chawla (right). (Facebook/Gopal Singh Chawla)Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has been facing the heat of opposition leaders for heaping praise on the Pakistan government, landed himself into yet another controversy after a photograph of him with pro-Khalistani activist Gopal Singh Chawla was posted on the latter’s Facebook wall on Thursday.
Chawla, who is associated with Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC), was allegedly in “regular touch” with a member of terror module busted by Punjab Police earlier this month.
Chawla had earlier stopped the Indian High Commission officials from entering gurdwaras in Nankana Sahib in connection with the birthday celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev. In a viral video, the activist was heard telling the officials that there were Khalistani supporters inside.
Condemning the meeting between the duo, the BJP immediately upped the attack against Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, asking him if he “planned to disturb Punjab again like Indira Gandhi”.
Taking to Twitter, BJP leader Tajinder Bagga said, “Sidhu met Khalistani terrorist Gopal Chawla in Pakistan. What’s cooking Rahul Gandhi? Four days ago, Punjab Police had exposed the Khalistani involvement in Amritsar terrorist attack and yesterday, your leader met the Khalistani terrorist. Are you planning to disturb Punjab again like Indira Gandhi?”
On Wednesday, Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal had hit out at Sidhu over his “good relations” with Pakistan, saying the Congress leader seems to be getting “more love and respect” from the neighbouring country than in India.
Speaking to news agency ANI, the minister had said, “He (Imran Khan) offered him (Navjot Singh Sidhu) to fight elections from Pakistan. He (Sidhu) seems to have more love and respect in Pakistan than what I noticed over here. He has some good relationships over there.”
