After Smriti Irani's jibe on Sidhu's hug, Congress condemns Pak Army chief's statement

The Congress on Friday strongly condemned Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa statement on "avenging the blood of its soldiers shed at the border" and demanded that the government respond to it in a befitting manner.

Congress spokesperson RPN Singh also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his claims of having a "56-inch chest" to respond to Pakistan which was made by him during campaign of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

"We condemn this statement of Pakistan Army Chief in very very strong words. But this is a question you should be asking the prime minister of this country that Pakistan continues to make these kinds of statements, what is the response of the central government to the statements.

"Where is that 56-inch chest that we heard of in 2013 and 2014. The central government must give befitting reply to Pakistan whenever it points fingers and tries to condemn the sacrifices of our soldiers and citizens," Singh told reporters.

The Congress' reaction came as Union Minister Smriti Irani questioned Rahul Gandhi's silence in the entire matter.

Reacting to Bajwa's comments, Union Minister Smriti Irani was quoted by ANI as saying, " Congress chief kept mum on Sidhu sahab’s (Punjab minister and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu) trip to Pakistan. Now, what will Congress Chief say after Sidhu has returned from Pakistan & Pakistan speaking against India". 

Doubling down on Rahul Gandhi, Irani said, "Congress chief's silence is understandable, as on one side there is Sidhu who goes&hugs Pakistan Army General who is speaking against India&on other hand, it is Mani Shankar Aiyar whose candidature cancellation during Gujarat polls was just an eyewash". 

On the Bharatiya Janata Party's criticism of Sidhu that he will 'bow his head' before the Pakistan government on the issue of opening the border with India for access to the Sikh pilgrims to visit the Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara, he said Sidhu had gone to Pakistan and had urged the Pakistan president to allow passage to Kartarpur corridor for Sikhs.

The Pakistan government has reportedly decided to open Kartarpur Corridor for Sikh pilgrims, Sidhu has claimed. 

On this, Singh said if the Sikh pilgrims are allowed to visit the holy shrine, it is something which is very good for the people of India if they go and pray there.

"If that is being allowed, that will be something very good for the people who have faith in that shrine. Millions of Indians have faith in that holy shrine. If they get a passage to it, that will be a good move," Singh said.

On Kashmir, Singh said India's stand is very clear that there can be no interference of any third party in discussion between India and Pakistan.

"That is the stand the Congress party started and we stand firm on that ground," he said.

The Pakistan Army chief has reportedly said, "We will avenge the blood of Pakistan martyrs shed at border." 

(With PTI inputs)