Navjot Singh Sidhu defends Pakistan visit; claims he had govt permission to go

Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Tuesday responded to the controversy and outrage that surrounded his hug to the Pakistan Army Chief during the swearing in of that country's prime minister Imran Khan.

Sidhu also clarified that he had received permission to visit Pakistan from EAM Minister Sushma Swaraj. "I received invitation 10 times. Then I sought permission from Indian government, I didn't get permission & was waiting. 2 days after Pakistan government gave visa, Sushma Swaraj Ji herself called me in the night & informed that I have been given permission," he claimed.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Sidhu said, "Many people from Congress have spoken on this including Captain Sahab. Its a democracy and everyone has the right to their opinion: Navjot Singh Sidhu on Punjab CM's statement against him for hugging Pak Army Chief."

Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh was critical of Sidhu's actions.

"As far as hugging the Pakistan Army Chief is concerned I am not in its favour. It was wrong for him to have shown the affection towards the Pakistan Army Chief," Singh was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

"Everyday our jawans are getting martyred. To hug their Chief General Bajwa...I am against this. The fact is that the man should understand that our soldiers are being killed every day," Singh said.

Sidhu also landed in a controversy during the ceremony when he was seated next to the chief of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Ghulam Ahmed Mir, Jammu and Kashmir’s Congress chief said that Sidhu ought to have avoided sitting next to the PoK president. He was quoted saying by ANI: “He is a responsible person and a minister. Only he can answer, but yes he could have avoided this.”

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra  wondered if Sidhu had taken permission from the Congress party before deciding to attend Imran Khan’s oath-taking ceremony and lambasted him for hugging the Pak Army Chief Bajwa. 

Meanwhile, Haryana Minister Anil Vij termed Sidhu's participation in the ceremony as an "act of disloyalty" towards India which "will not be endorsed by any patriotic citizen" of the country.