Saturday 18 August 2018

I have come as a friend: Navjot Singh Sidhu in Pakistan

New Delhi: Former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday arrived in Islamabad to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Pakistan’s PM-elect Imran Khan on Saturday.

He said he has “not come here as a politician”.

“I have come here as a friend, as a goodwill messenger. I have brought a Kashmiri shawl as a gift for Khan. I love Kashmiri shawls and I have many. It is a symbol of love,” he told Pakistani media after entering the country via the Attari-Wagah border. He has been criticised in some sections of media and politics in India for accepting the invitation by Khan.

Sidhu has released a press note back home to explain his decision: “The political change that has emerged after the recent general elections held in Pakistan is a historical event. I give my best wishes for the democratically-elected new government from the core of my heart. On this memorable moment, I especially congratulate Imran Khan on being elected as (the) Prime Minister of Pakistan. I know Khan for the last three-and-a-half decades and we have been meeting in different nations on cricketing field.”

“I had been an ardent fan of the multi-talented Khan. In the field of cricket, he had been a great achiever and brought laurels not only for the game, but also to his country by winning the World Cup. He was a pioneer in his field. Apart from cricket, I was always impressed by the overall personality of Khan and this is the reason, during cricketing days, I always tried to stay close to him,” said Sidhu.

Navjot Singh Sidhu to attend Imran Khan's swearing-in ceremony

He added, “It is just because of this pious friendship and strong bond that I have been invited by Khan to this all-important swearing-in ceremony. It is a matter of pride, happiness and satisfaction for me to be a part of this ceremony. I also entered the field of politics a few years ago. I always felt that through politics, I would be in a position to contribute towards my society and country. Today also I work as a politician with same target.”

“The same way, Khan has great intent to do something for his nation and uplift the society,” he added.

Sidhu was criticised by BJP for skipping the cremation of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s funeral ceremony.

Describing Sidhu as “insensitive and opportunistic”, Punjab BJP spokesperson Rajesh Honey said: “He has gone to Pakistan hoping to get international media mileage, forgetting the fact that it was Vajpayee who brought him into politics and today was his funeral.”

Sidhu trended on Twitter and received bouquets as well as brickbats for his decision. While people from across the border hailed Sidhu’s Pakistan visit, many in India felt that the timing of his trip was wrong as it coincided with Vajpayee’s funeral. Now a Congress leader, Sidhu had joined BJP in 2004 on Vajpayee’s insistence and contested his first Lok Sabha election from Amritsar the same year. At most election rallies then, Sidhu used to introduce himself as “Vajpayee sahab da sipahi (Vajpayee’s soldier)”.

Before crossing over to Pakistan, Sidhu told newspersons in Attari that he was going to Islamabad as he was an “ardent fan” of Imran and they had known each other for nearly 35 years. “It is just because of this pious friendship and strong bond that I have been invited to this ceremony. It is a matter of pride, happiness and satisfaction for me,” he said. Speaking to reporters in Lahore, Sidhu said he had come to the country as a goodwill messenger and “with a message of love” to participate in Imran’s happiness. “Hindustan jeevey (Long live India), Pakistan jeevey (Long live Pakistan)!” he chanted. He said he was saddened by the demise of Vajpayee and recalled that it was he who had started the friendship bus service between the two countries.

Sidhu said he had brought a Kashmiri shawl as a gift for Imran. Besides Sidhu, Imran’s PTI had invited former cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev. Earlier this week, Kapil Dev, citing personal reasons, said he will not be attending the oath-taking ceremony. Gavaskar had also declined Khan’s invitation due to his commentary commitments for the ongoing Test series between England and India.

The post I have come as a friend: Navjot Singh Sidhu in Pakistan appeared first on NewsroomPost.



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