On Saturday, the BJP slammed the Congress after its Punjab unit president, Navjot Singh Sidhu, reportedly referred to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan as his "elder brother" during a visit to Kartarpur Sahib, alleging that the opposition party sees terror groups like IS and Boko Haram in Hindutva while finding a "bhai jaan" in Khan.

The BJP slammed the Congress on Saturday after its Punjab unit president, Navjot Singh Sidhu, reportedly referred to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan as his "elder brother" during a visit to Kartarpur Sahib, alleging that the opposition party sees terror groups like IS and Boko Haram in Hindutva while finding a "bhai jaan" in Khan.

Mr Sidhu is heard claiming that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is like an "older brother" to him and that he loves him a lot in a claimed video of him being welcomed by a Pakistani official on behalf of Imran Khan.

As the ruling party jumped on the topic to criticise Congress, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said it is a major subject of concern for Indians.

He stated that there was a wider plan at work, and Mr Sidhu's remarks were related to a number of Congress leaders criticising Hindutva, including Rahul Gandhi.

Mr Patra, referring to a statement made by Congress leader Salman Khurshid in his new book, said the opposition party sees terror groups like the Islamic State and Boko Haram in Hindutva but sees a "bhai jaan" in Khan.

It's being done as part of appeasement politics, as Congress still feels that praising Pakistan will make some Indians pleased. Mr Patra stated that such people do not exist in India.

Mr Sidhu has previously lauded Khan and Pakistan, hugging its army head Qamar Javed Bajwa on a visit to the neighbouring country, he added.

Mr Patra added that because Punjab is a border state where Pakistan tries to stir up problems, it needs mature and patriotic leadership.

Mr Sidhu is unfit for India, and Punjab deserves better, he claimed.

According to the BJP leader, Pakistan's foreign minister recently branded Hindutva as a threat to world security, and he borrowed the term from Rahul Gandhi.

Mr Patra responded to a question regarding Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi mailing a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the farmers' situation by asking if she considered Mr Khan an elder brother.

Sharing the video, BJP IT department head Amit Malviya tweeted, "Rahul Gandhi's favourite Navjot Singh Sidhu calls Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan his "bada Bhai". Last time he had hugged Gen Bajwa, Pakistan Army’s Chief, heaped praises. Is it any surprise that the Gandhi siblings chose a Pakistan loving Sidhu over veteran Amarinder Singh?"