Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu criticised the BJP on Tuesday for adopting “double standards” on his “hugging” Pakistan’s Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the swearing-in of Prime Minister Imran Khan, even as Mr. Khan said those who targeted Mr. Sidhu were doing a disservice to peace in the subcontinent.
In a tweet in support of Mr. Sidhu, who has been facing criticism from the Opposition for hugging Gen. Bajwa, Mr. Khan said: “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 disservice to peace in the subcontinent — without peace, our people cannot progress.”
Mr. Khan advocated dialogue between the two nations, including on the Kashmir issue. “To move forward, Pakistan and India must hold dialogue and resolve their conflicts, including Kashmir. The best way to alleviate poverty and uplift the people of the subcontinent is to resolve our differences through dialogue and start trading.”
Talking to journalists here, Mr. Sidhu hit back at the BJP. “When Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, he invited the heads of the SAARC nations, including former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, for his swearing-in. Mr. Sharif was accorded a warm welcome when he reached India. Mr. Modi went to Lahore to attend a family function of Mr. Sharif and greeted him without official formalities,” he said.
He said his visit was not political, but was in response to a “warm invitation” from a friend. “Such things [visits] have happened before and when there was tension between the two countries and our jawans were martyred. I hope the new government in Pakistan is capable of bringing about a constructive change in the region.”
“Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had gone to Lahore with a message of peace, but what followed was the Kargil war. Mr. Modi went to Pakistan on an unannounced visit, and later there was a terrorist attack in Pathankot. But does that mean attempts at peace-making should be stopped,” he asked. Only talks between the two countries would help to end conflicts.
Mr. Sidhu said: “Gen. Bajwa met [me] with enthusiasm after seeing me in the first row. He told me that they [Pakistan] were making efforts to open the corridor from Dera Baba Nanak to Kartarpur Sahib to help pilgrims pay obeisance on the occasion of the 550th ‘Parkash Diwas’ of Guru Nanak Dev. It was an emotional moment for me and the result [the hug] was for everyone to see, a natural reaction. Should I have turned my back,” he asked. He was upset at the criticism of this sudden meeting and a spontaneous emotional reaction.
As for Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh’s adverse remarks against him, Mr. Sidhu said he had great respect for his leader. “I am not hurt. In a democracy, everyone can express his views. If he has spoken against me, that does not mean I should reply. I did what I felt was correct.”
