New Delhi, Sep 18 (UNI) Amid controversy that Navjot Singh Sidhu was reprimanded by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for 'messing' up the diplomatic talks with Pakistan on Kartarpur Sahib corridor, the BJP on Tuesday claimed that even before his departure, Ms Swaraj had counseled the former cricketer not to 'get hyper'.
"Sushmaji told Sidhu before his departure to Pakistan, please do not get hyper. You conduct yourself as a player. Do not play with nation's sentiment and remember at the end of the day, yeh yaad rakhna, lautke Hindustan hi ana hae (You have to come back to India)," BJP spokesman Sambit Patra told reporters here claiming he has enlisted these information from the Minister herself.
"But it is a matter of regret that the kind of conduct he showed in Pakistan, and that he hugged Pak Army Chief....It appears he promoted the politics of lie," Mr Patra said.
He further said Punjab Minister Mr Sidhu, also a former BJP leader, did not stop at that and at later stage has been constantly uttering only 'jhoot (falsehood)' - just to justify his "embrace" with the Pak army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Mr Patra also claimed that Mr Sidhu went to meet Sushma Swaraj without proper appointment.
"The appointment was taken in the name of former Minister MS Gill, but Sidhu went inside alongside with a photographer," he alleged.
The BJP spokesman said with a 'photographer', "Mr Sidhu's sole purpose was to prove that he is running a parallel diplomacy as well".
Echoing the sentiment expressed earlier by Akali Dal leader and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, he also said Sushma Swaraj in her interaction with Mr Sidhu told her that the government was "unhappy (naraz)" with his conduct in Pakistan and especially the manner he had hugged the Pak army chief.
"Sushmaji reprimanded him that such politics should have been avoided," said Mr Patra. On Monday, Ms Badal had tweeted that the Punjab Minister was 'reprimanded' by the External Affairs Minister.
The BJP also sharpened attack against the cricketer-turned-politician and said he has consistently tried to portray India in poor light.
"The consistent efforts made by Mr Sidhu to present India in poor light is a matter of deep concern,"
BJP spokesman said.
Earlier in the day, Akali Dal sources claimed that the Pakistan government has "not sent" any official communication to India for formally establishing a 'corridor' to facilitate normal visit for Indian pilgrims to Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib.
Mr Sidhu had recently claimed that Pakistan was serious about its offer and also suggested that India should display equal enthusiasm.
Mr Patra claimed at the press conference that not only the Modi government, all successive Indian governments have raised the issue of Kartarpursahib corridor - "but, Pakistan has never shown respect to the issue".
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