What Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu renewed with a hug in Pakistan three months ago would finally turn into reality on November 28 with his “friend” and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan all set to lay the foundation stone of much-awaited Kartarpur corridor project. And for that, Imran has invited Sidhu to join him.
Imran Khan has reportedly invited Sidhu by personally making a telephonic call to invite him to join for the ground-breaking ceremony for the project on Pak side.
“I would definitely visit Pakistan if I get authorization from the Centre. I personally want to thank my friend,” Sidhu told The Pioneer.
Sidhu raised a dust of controversy during his visit to Pakistan to attend Imran Khan’s swearing-in ceremony on August 18, after he embraced Pak Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa at a time when the Indian soldiers were getting killed every day on the border.
He was criticised not only by his rivals but also his party-men. He was dubbed as “traitor” and “anti-national”.
Defending his hugplomacy, Sidhu described it as “emotional” reaction to General Bajwa’s talk regarding opening of Kartarpur corridor. He also claimed that Pak was ready to give Indian pilgrims direct access to the gurdwara, and the ball was now in India’s court. However, the Centre denied receiving any formal request on the issue from the neighbouring nation.
But on Thursday, the Union Cabinet cleared a proposal to develop a corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district to the international border to facilitate Indian pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur in Pakistan.
Hours later, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi stated that Islamabad has conveyed to India its decision to open the Kartarpur corridor.
Reacting, Sidhu tweeted: “I welcome this auspicious step by the Union Cabinet…Thank you @ImranKhanPTI Bhai, we welcome the positive step, it means the world to us. You’re a gem! This is a great service to mankind. Kudos to you!”
Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara is located around three km from the Indo-Pak border, and is visible from the Indian side. Establishing a corridor was a long-pending demand of the Sikh community.