Imran Khan comes to Sidhu's rescue, calls him ‘ambassador of peace'

Associates turned hostile after Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu hugged controversy.

But Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday came to his rescue from across the border by virtually making it clear that anything against the gesture would mean not mending fences.

Back from the neighboring country after attending his “friend” Imran Khan’s swearing-in ceremony, Sidhu is giving clarifications and explanations to one and all.

On Tuesday, he explained his position during the State Cabinet meeting, and later before the media saying that his visit was not “political” but just on a “warm invitation from a friend”.

Even as the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh disapproved his “hug” as “not a nice gesture” which was “completely avoidable”, Sidhu was left alone by all of his Cabinet colleagues. No one vouched for him.

He even fearlessly put his stand before the media that fired at him volleys of questions regarding numerous “controversies” he raised during his Pak visit — hugging Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, sitting next to Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir president Masood Khan, and skipping the cremation of his “mentor” Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Hours later, he was backed by none other than Imran Khan, on whose invitation he had crossed the border. Defending as well as “thanking” Sidhu, Pakistan’s newly-elected Prime Minister said that those targeting him in India are “doing great disservice to peace in the subcontinent”.

Describing Sidhu as an “ambassador of peace”, Imran said that Punjab Minister was given amazing love and affection by the people of Pakistan.

“I want to thank Sidhu for coming to Pakistan for my oath taking. He was an ambassador of peace and was given amazing love and affection by the people of Pakistan. Those in India who targeted him are doing a great disservice to peace in the subcontinent -- without peace our people cannot progress,” tweeted Imran.

Clarifying his stand, Sidhu said that he was hurt over the criticism for his sudden meeting with Pak army chief and “emotional reaction” of hugging him.

“At our unplanned meeting, he told me that they were making efforts to open the corridor from Dera Baba Nanak to Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan where Guru Nanak Dev ji had spent 18 years. My reaction to this was purely emotional on behalf of the people of Punjab as millions of them are waiting for a chance to visit Kartarpur Sahib,” said Sidhu.

On seating next to PoK head, Sidhu said that his seat was changed “at the last minute”, and he did not know who eas sitting next to him.

Sidhu, giving explanation for not attending Vajpayee’s last rites, Sidhu said that the news of his death came very late. “I had already committed to Imran Khan that I would come. Vajpayee ji would have been only too happy as I was just carrying forward his legacy of peace,” he said.

Reiterating that it was “not a political invite”, Sidhi said: “We have old bonds and I could not decline the invitation. Imran came to me after the swearing-in and expressed concern over losing our soldiers on the border, and insisted that we must give peace a chance.”

“After the ceremony, I had about 40-minute talk with Imran. Of course, it was not about cricket. We discussed the vital issues facing our countries. Our conversation was private and I would not like to share it here,” said Sidhu.

Reacting to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s disapproval of his hugplomacy, Sidhu said: “If he has spoken against me, it does not mean I have to give a reply. Sunil Jakhar and others have also spoken. Each one can express his view. I did what my heart felt was right.”