Congress leader and minister from Punjab, Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday said that he was sent to Pakistan by Congress president Rahul Gandhi. He said his captain is Rahul Gandhi and wherever he went was with his permission.
On November 28, Sidhu visited Pakistan for the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor on the invitation of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. During the event, he heaped praised on Khan and said generations will remember Khan’s name whenever they speak about Kartarpur.
During a press conference in Hyderabad, Sidhu said, ‘Mere captain Rahul Gandhi hain, unhone toh bheja hai har jagah (my captain is Rahul Gandhi, he has sent me everywhere).’
Sidhu’s controversy 2.0
Sidhu had earlier triggered a major controversy after he attended the oath-taking ceremony of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in August and hugged Pakistan Army chief General Bajwa.
At a press conference in Hyderabad, Sidhu was asked if he had sought permission from Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh before visiting Pakistan for the Kartarpur ceremony.
To this he said, Captain Amarinder, is an army captain. ‘My captain is Rahul Gandhi, who is also his (Amarinder’s) captain.’ He also said that at least 20 Congress leaders asked him to go to Pakistan. ‘The central leadership (of Congress) asked me to go.’
Speaking about his relations with Captain Amarinder, he said he is “like my father”. ‘I told him that I have already promised them (Pakistan) that I will visit.’ he added.
Captain Amarinder Singh has openly criticized Sidhu for visiting Pakistan. So far, Congress has been maintaining that Sidhu’s visit was undertaken in his personal capacity and the party has nothing to do with it.
However, Sidhu has been attacked and derided for his visit to the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor at the invitation of fellow cricket veteran and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.
