Cricketer turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu who braved many insults and taunts to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the 22nd Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was subject to numerous jibes and attacks on social media.
Many users called him a traitor for missing the last rites of former Indian Politician late Atal Bihari Vajpayee but reaching Pakistan to be present at the oath ceremony of cricket legend Khan.
But Sidhu retaliated by claiming that he went to Pakistan as a friend. “I have come here not as a politician but as a friend,” said the former opener currently working as an MLA of the Congress-ruled Punjab state government.
“He called himself as “a goodwill ambassador of India” and said that he had “brought a message of love to Pakistan.”
Those were however not enough to bring him some respite from the Indian fans, who raged and fretted over his decision to attend the ceremony when both Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar – who were also invited – skipped the event citing prior commitments.
Also Read: Navjot Sidhu remembers late Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Imran Khan’s oath-taking ceremony
Many also called Sidhu a traitor for sitting beside Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK) president Masood Khan at the ceremony. Sidhu was also caught on cameras hugging him and the Pakistan army general, all of whom were present at the event.
Meanwhile, a user also uploaded a video on Youtube where Sidhu could be seen gifting Imran the “Kashmiri Shawl” he had earlier spoken of. “I have brought a Kashmiri Shawl for Khan Sahib,” Sidhu had said when asked on what he had for Pakistan’s new political head.
Sidhu was the only Indian minister or sportsmen to attend Khan.s oath-taking ceremony.