Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar attacked Navjot Singh Sidhu for his speech at the Kartarpur Corridor ceremony on Wednesday, 28 November, and said that the Punjab minister had unduly praised Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.
"The most objectionable thing in Sidhu’s Pakistan trip is that he referred to various domestic issues, which is not done in any diplomatic relations. He praised Imran Khan more than what was due and praised him to the hilt," Javadekar told news agency ANI, adding that: “It is not a laughter challenge.”
Sidhu, a former cricketer, was a recurring guest at a comedy show, The Great Indian Laughter Challenge.
Earlier on Wednesday, Khan laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur Corridor in the presence of Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Indian Union Ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri, along with Sidhu.
Sidhu said during his speech at the event in Pakistan:
“May my friend Imran Khan thrive, live. He has been a good friend and delivered his promise.”
Javadekar also said that leaders need to be careful about their speeches when Pakistan is involved in terror activities and cross-border terrorism
Sidhu Disobeyed CM’s Request: Akali Dal
BJP ally Shiromani Akali Dal criticised Sidhu for "disobeying" Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s advice to reconsider his Pakistan visit.
The opposition parties have alleged that Sidhu had no right to be in the Cabinet when he could not stand with his chief minister on a particular issue, news agency PTI reported.
“It is quite strange that Sidhu is disobeying his chief minister. If he cannot respect the feelings of his CM then he should not be in the cabinet. If you disagree with your boss, then you have no right to be under the chief minister’s command.”Daljit Singh Cheema, SAD Spokesperson
Capt Amarinder Singh had said on Tuesday, 27 November, that he had asked Sidhu to reconsider his decision on going to Pakistan for the ceremony. The CM said that he had accepted Sidhu's request as he did not believe in stopping anyone from undertaking a “personal visit.”
Cheema further demanded that Sidhu should be thrown out of the Punjab Cabinet or he should resign.
BJP National Secretary Tarun Chugh also lashed out at the cricketer-turned-politician for "defying" the CM’s request.
“Sidhu is such a minister who does not listen to his own chief minister. A minister is a part of the cabinet and it is the chief minister who takes a call on state policies. When the CM told Sidhu to reconsider his decision of going to Pakistan, then he should have agreed to it.”Tarun Chugh, BJP National Secretary
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)
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