The row over Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu’s visit to Islamabad refused to die down as the former cricketer on Tuesday stoutly defended hugging the Pakistan Army chief in Islamabad and accused the BJP of “double standards”, while the BJP reminded him that “diplomacy is the Centre’s prerogative”, not of an individual Minister. A day after Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh criticised Sidhu for his act, Imran hailed Sidhu as an “ambassador of peace” and lashed out at the critics saying they are doing a “great disservice” to peace in the subcontinent.
Sidhu reasoned that hugging Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa at the swearing-in ceremony of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was an “emotional response” on learning that Sikh pilgrims may now be allowed to visit the Kartarpur shrine across the border. “Then Prime Minister Atal ji went there with a message of friendship. Thereafter, the Kargil War took place. Five hundred twenty-seven Indian jawans attained martyrdom. Will you blame himij... Then, Modi sahib went to Pakistan without even any official formalities and hugged former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif. Will you not call him a patriotij Why are there double standardsij” Sidhu said at a Press conference in Chandigarh.
Hitting out at the Congress leader for drawing a parallel between his visit to Pakistan and that of Vajpayee, the BJP on Tuesday reminded the former cricketer that “diplomacy is the Centre’s prerogative”, not of an individual Minister.
He also asked the BJP why the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad gifted a cricket bat to Imran Khan after he emerged as the prime minister-designate.
Sidhu said he wanted to clarify that his Islamabad visit was not “political” and just in response to “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 the capability of changing the fate of crores of people,” he said.
The former cricketer said Imran Khan’s invitation should be seen in a larger context, adding that he had sent out a message of friendship and peace. He hoped India and Pakistan can settle their differences through talks and increase trade and other exchanges.
