Navjot Sidhu reprimanded for hugging Pak army chief, claims Harsimrat Kaur Badal

Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal claimed that Punjab cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu was reprimanded by External Minister Sushma Swaraj for messing up the dialogue on Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara. Sidhu met Swaraj on Monday. “Sidhu was also reprimanded by Swaraj for misusing political clearance granted for the “private visit” by hugging Pakistan army chief who is responsible for killing Indian soldiers.”

“External Affairs Minister reprimanded Navjot Sidhu for messing up Kartarpur Sahib corridor dialogue and misusing political clearance granted for a private visit by hugging military Chief responsible for killing our soldiers,” Badal tweeted.

External Affairs Minister reprimands Navjot Sidhu for messing up Kartarpur Sahib corridor dialogue and misusing political clearance granted for private visit by hugging military Chief responsible for killing our soldiers.

— Harsimrat Kaur Badal (@HarsimratBadal_) September 17, 2018

Sidhu’s visit to Pakistan last month to attend newly-elected Prime Minister Imran Khan’s oath ceremony had received severe criticism. At that time, a picture of him hugging Pakistan army chief general Qamar Javed Bajwa surfaced, which had invited many to take potshots at him for hugging Pakistan Army chief responsible for killing Indian soldiers.

Sidhu had earlier written to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, requesting her to “make every possible effort” on the issue of Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara and said Pakistan had shown its “positive intent” in providing access to the historic shrine.

A week before, Sidhu had claimed that Pakistan had decided to allow Sikh pilgrims’ direct access to the historic Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara just across the border.

In a letter written to Swaraj on September 8, Sidhu said, “Now an opportunity has knocked on our doors. Pakistan has shown a positive intent towards the long pending demand of Kartarpur Sahib corridor. Pilgrims and we all have been demanding for this corridor since years.”

He recalled his Pakistan visit and said, his visit brought some positivity on this issue. He said, Pakistan Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary will be opening its corridor, where Indians won’t need any passport as part of the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev ji.

He also said, “it is time for India to take a positive step on this highly emotional issue,” he said.

Also read: Navjot Sidhu may face jail in 1998 Patiala road rage case