Navjot Sidhu Justifies His All actions in Pakistan , hits out at critics, claims full support of party High Command
Chandigarh, August 21, 2018 :
Punjab cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has courageously defended all his actions during his Pak visit and slams all his critics on the issue of hugging Pakistan Army chief General Bajwa in Islamabad.
Addressing media persons here today, Sidhu read out a well drafted written statement justifying his goodwill gestures and advocating the starting of peace talk initiatives by India.
He also referred to such goodwill visits of former PM late Atal Biahari Vajpayee and present PM Narendra Modi in the past . He asked BJP to stop double standards.
Explaining the hugging incident he said that Gen Bajwa warmly met him barely for a minute before the swearing-in started and he did not meet him later.
Sidhu further clarified that he got emotional for a moment. He said his seat was changed at the last minute and he did not know who sat next to him.
Sidhu said he received a lot of love and affection in Pakistan and was disappointed by some of the reactions expressed in India.
When asked about about the reaction of Captain Amarinder Singh , Navjot refused to speak but claimed that he had the full support of Congress High Command . he also referred to the support given by PCC president Sunil Jakhar .
Following the copy of the statement issued by Sidhu :
The Political change in Pakistan has increased peace prospects in the region: Navjot Sidhu
My brief visit to Pakistan has emerged as a big talking point. In this regard, I would definitely like to clear certain things.
The visit to Pakistan was not political in any way but just a warm invitation from a friend. That friend, who went through immense hard work and struggle in life. The one, who reached a position, which is respected and holds capability of changing fate of crores of people. The position, on which he can sit and bring respite to many people faced by difficulties. A friend, who can work for healthy relations with its neighboring nation. The one, who can play a role in bringing relief to the long standing tension between the two nations. This hope can be kept from the recent political change that has come in Pakistan. In such situation, a written invitation and a telephonic call from my long time cricketing friend, Imran Khan for his swearing in ceremony as Prime Minister of Pakistan was a thing of honour for me.
Before going to Pakistan and after reaching Lahore, while speaking to the mediapersons, I expressed hope for peace and prosperity in the entire region. I strongly believe that, if today also both the Nations settle their differences through talks, become good neighbours and increase mutual exchanges in trade and other aspects then it will be a great hope and message for the South Asia. Eight countries including India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives fall in the SAARC Nations category of the South Asia. Meetings of these nations are held from time to time and such feelings are expressed by heads of most of the Nations. Hope for harmony is expressed by all and strategies are made by them to have better mutual ties.
I feel it is unfortunate for both India and Pakistan that relations couldn’t improve between them after the Partition. The animosity between the two nations became a curse and as a result million suffered. Currently the situation in Pakistan is unfortunate and painful. The way various terrorist outfits have gathered in that country, many a times the future of Pakistan looks very dark. In such bad situation, only a government with strong political will and its head can prevail over the deteriorating situation in Pakistan. Today similar feeling is among Lakhs of people and many others in both the countries.
This is the reason that many leaders of India from time to time made efforts in this direction. Today we are paying homage to former Prime Minister Sh. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who recently left us. With a message of peace, Sh. Vajpayee also went to Lahore with a ‘Dosti Bus’ on February 19, 1999. Though Sh. Vajpayee and then Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had expressed warm friendship but at the same time former Pakistani Army Chief Gen. Parvez Musharaff planned ‘Kargil’ and captured our territory. To weed them out, Kargil War started when Sh. Atal Bihar Vajpayee was the Prime Minister and in this 527 Indian Jawans attained martyrdom. Later when Parvez Mudharaff became the President of Pakistan, he was invited to India and talks continued between Musharaff and Sh. Vajpayee in Agra till two days (July 14, 2001 to July 16, 2001).
When Sh. Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India, he also invited heads of SAARC Nations including former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the swearing in ceremony. Sharif was accorded a warm welcome when he reached India. Not only this, Prime Minister Modi, with a hope in mind, suddenly went to Lahore to attend a family function of former Prime Minister Pakistan Nawaz Sharif and greet him without even any official formalities. Such things have happened before and also at times when their was tension between the two countries, bullets were sprayed and also when our jawans were martyred. But now I hope that may be the new political change in Pakistan is capable of bringing constructive change in the region.
As far as my meeting with the Pakistani Army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa is concerned, I again want to make it clear that this meeting took place in Islamabad at a time when Gen. Bajwa reached the venue of the swearing in ceremony. He met me with enthusiasm after seeing me sitting in the first row. Immediately, he told me that they were making efforts to open the corridor from India’s Dera Baba Nanak to Kartarpur Sahib, which is about 3 to 3.5 kilometers in Pakistan, to facilitate the pilgrims to pay obeisance on the occasion of 550th ‘Parkash Diwas’ of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Crores of pilgrims have always been waiting to pay obeisance at holy Kartarpur Sahib, the place where Guru Nanak Dev Ji spent nearly 18 years of his life. Without a thought, this thing said by Gen. Bajwa was an emotional moment for me and the result was for everyone to see. After that brief meeting in the gathering, I had no meeting with Gen. Bajwa. However I am disappointed and hurt over the criticism being done by my critics over this sudden meeting and my emotional reaction.
Kisi Ne Pyaar Se Murshad Mere Ka Naam Liya
Kisi Ne Pyaar Se Rehbar Mere Ka Naam Liya
Kisi Ne Pyaar Se Nanak Guru Ka Naam Liya
Toe Mere Dil Se Jo Umrra Tha
Aehtraam-O-Adab
Wo Chashma Ban Kar Meri Atma Se Phoot Pda
Yahi Thi Meri Khta
Ab Jo Chahe Do Saza
I am overwhelmed with the immense love and affection shown by journalists, politicians and thousands of others in Pakistan during my two day tour to Pakistan. The love showered on me has further strengthened my belief and hope that in the coming days relations may improve between the two countries and both nations by decreasing the tension may move towards strengthening economy and move towards prosperity. After becoming Prime Minister, Imran Khan, during his maiden address to the people of Pakistan has stressed that for peace in Pakistan he will take to all neighbouring nations and this has confirmed my hope. I have returned from Pakistan with such hopes.