Congress distances itself from Sidhu's call for talks with Pakistan

The Congress on Thursday distanced itself from Punjab Minister and party leader Navjot Singh Sidhu's call for talks with Pakistan, saying the atmosphere was "not conducive for dialogues".

Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, Sidhu advocated for talks with Pakistan saying that the solution is peace.

"I stand by my conviction that dialogue and diplomatic pressure will count for a great deal in seeking a long-term solution to the presence and practice of terror outfits that operate within and across the border. The solution is peace, development and progress. Not unemployment hatred and fear," Sidhu said in a statement on Thursday.

Reacting to Sidhu's assertions, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said the party doesn't endorse the statement by the cricketer-turned-politician.

"If Sidhu has an opinion that is his personal and not of the Congress'," he said.

He said: "Pakistan has been sponsoring a proxy war against India for four decades now. For 15 long years, Punjab has suffered because of the terror unleashed by Pakistan and its instrumentalities.

"Dialogue can take place when the atmosphere is conducive. The current atmosphere is not conducive for dialogue," added Tewari.

--IANS

and/pg/bg