Sidhu bats for Pakistan

Trust Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu to go off the tangent, somewhat like his clumsy attempts at humour.

Having landed in a major controversy after the infamous hug (‘jhappi’) he gave to Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, the former cricketer has defended the gesture saying it was only a hug -- a very Punjabi way of greeting -- and nothing like the Rafale deal.

Sidhu, who is in Lahore for the Kartarpur corridor ground-breaking ceremony, addressed the media on Tuesday saying, "The hug was hardly for a second, it was not a Rafale deal."

He further explained his conduct. "It is very common in Punjab. When two Punjabis meet, if they want to express gratitude, they hug each other. It is a way of showing warmth and affection." The remark had many wondering: "Why would you thank the Pakistan army chief".

That gave the BJP a good reason to take pot shots at the Congress for "carrying the Rafale campaign through Sidhu to Pakistan". "Insanity is contagious. Sidhu carries Rahul Gandhi's falsehood against Rafale purchase to Pakistan. He found allies there," said a tweet on the BJP official handle.

Another tweet said, "Snide remarks against Indian government. Pakistani PM is described as a ‘farishta’. Have we heard of Trojan Horses?"

Sidhu is, however, adamant that he is a messenger of peace. "The Centre hasn't objected to my visit, nobody said kintu, parantu (ifs and buts). In fact, I was encouraged to go. I have come here as a messenger of peace. This is an opportunity to erase enmity between the two nations," the Congress leader said. Terming Kartarpur as a "corridor of infinite possibilities", Sidhu said that such initiative would also enhance connectivity and promote trade. Hailing Imran Khan for "making the corridor possible," the Congress leader from Amritsar said, "The wait of 73 years is over. The seed Imran Khan had sown three months ago has become a plant. It is a happy moment for the Sikh community."

Sidhu had drawn flak from within the Congress party, too, over his decision to visit Pakistan for attending the ground-breaking ceremony, even as Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh turned down the invite, citing State-sponsored cross-border terrorism by Islamabad.