Sidhu returns from Pakistan after attending swearing in ceremony of Imran Khan as PM Pakistan
JAGMOHAN SINGH
Attari (Amritsar) Aug 19, 2018 : Punjab cabinet minister also the cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu today returned India today via the land transit route of Attari Wagah border after attending the swearing in ceremony of Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan who is also cricketer turned politician.
Sidhu was the only special guests in the sports category from India at Imran’s swearing in ceremony in the president house in Islamabad the national capital of Pakistan.
When Sidhu was questioned about his hugging in during the oath taking ceremony with the Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, he said, “If someone (Pak Army Chief General Bajwa) comes to me and says that we belong to the same culture & we'll open Kartarpur border on Sikh Guru Nanak Dev's 550th Prakash Parv, what else I could do?:
On the issue of his sitting arrangement with President of PoK Masood Khan in the front row at Pak PM Imran Khan's oath ceremony, Sidhu said, “ If you are invited as a guest of honour somewhere, you sit wherever you are asked to. I was sitting somewhere else but they asked me to sit there”.
Some handful people around twenty activists “Pagri Sambaal Jatta” outfit at border held mild protest on the arrival of Sidhu from Pakistan while showing resentment his sitting arrangement next to POK President in Islamabad during the oath taking ceremony of Imran Kahan. Activists were also holding placards “Sidhu Murdabad” Sidhu Gadaar” while holding black flags to Sidhu’s cavalcade while standing on the road side.
The opposition and Punjab BJP president Shwait Malik on Saturday had targeted Navjot Singh Sidhu for attending the swearing-in ceremony of Imran Khan as Pakistan's Prime Minister, with the BJP describing his visit to Islamabad as "shameful".
Launching scathing attack on Sidhu, Malik said that whether it was necessary for Sidhu to visit Pakistan at a time when India was mourning the demise of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Sidhu's hug with Pakistan Army chief General Bajwa at the ceremony also came under fire with the opposition parties asking him whether he remembered the sacrifices made by the Indian soldiers at the border at that time.
"On one side, the Pakistan army was involved in attacking our soldiers at the border and on the other side Sidhu was hugging the Army chief. Does it mean he was thanking him for killing our jawans?" he asked.
Malik dubbed Sidhu as an "opportunist" and accused him of putting the nation's dignity at risk.
The BJP leader demanded an apology from him for the "unacceptable act."
The Shiromani Akali Dal said Sidhu broke the "decorum" by visiting Pakistan.
"The whole nation is observing seven-day mourning in the wake of the death of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. At this point of time, it becomes necessary that no minister should attend ceremonial functions. By visiting Pakistan, Sidhu has broken the decorum," said SAD spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema.