I will remove Punjab Congress chief Navjot Sidhu’s advisors if he doesn’t, says Harish Rawat

Senior Congress leader in charge of Punjab Harish Rawat on Wednesday said that he will dismiss advisors to state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu for their comments on Kashmir and India-Pakistan ties if Sidhu did not act, NDTV reported.

Sidhu’s advisor Malwinder Mali had questioned the need for Article 370 and Article 35A of the Constitution if Kashmir was an integral part of India. Kashmir’s special status was revoked on August 5, 2019, a move that Opposition parties, including the Congress, have vociferously criticised.

Mali had also posted a sketch of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi that showed her next to a heap of human skulls, holding a gun that had a skull hanging on its nozzle.

Another advisor to Sidhu, Pyare Lal Garg, had questioned Chief Minister Amarinder Singh about his criticism of Pakistan, and said those comments were not in Punjab’s interest.

Rawat said that the whole party had objections to Mali’s and Garg’s statements. “Kashmir is a part of India,” he said. “These advisors were not appointed by the party. They should be removed. If there is a need, I will issue the directions.” He added that their remarks were an embarrassment and not acceptable.

On Monday, Sidhu had summoned Mali and Garg to his house after their comments, but Garg had…

Read more