NATION’S PROGRESS CAN’T STOP BECAUSE OF 3 TO 4 TERRORISTS, REITERATES MINISTER

› I had also said that we need preventive measures. We should not bow down to these terrorists. NAVJOT SINGH SIDHU, minister

LUDHIANA: Despite courting controversy for his remarks on the Pulwama terror attack, Punjab local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday reiterated that three to four people (read: terrorists) can’t stall the country’s progress.

On a visit to Ludhiana, the minister said the terror attack should not put a question mark on the Kartarpur Corridor, a decision taken by prime ministers of two nations.

Sidhu said the corridor — which will allow pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan, on Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary — was a long-pending demand of Sikhs that is finally seeing the light of day with progress being made on both sides of the border.

“Kya in teen-chaar logo ki vajeh se Kartarpur Corridor pe question mark lagega?” questioned Sidhu, while expressing apprehensions about the terror attack casting a shadow on the project.

‘REMARKS DISTORTED’

Responding to the backlash to the similar remarks made by him on Friday, Sidhu alleged they have been distorted as only a certain part has been highlighted.

“Media distorts everything I say. One particular part of my statement has been played up,” he said to mediapersons. “I had also said that we need preventive measures. We should not bow down to these terrorists... For me my country is first,” he said.