Rahul sent me to Pak for Kartarpur Corridor event, claims Sidhu

HYDERABAD: Amid the raging row over his Pakistan visit, cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu said on Friday it was Congress president Rahul Gandhi who sent him there for attending the foundation laying ceremony of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor.

Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu speaks at Gandhi Bhavan in Hyderabad. PTI

Naveen S Garewal
Tribune News Service
Hyderabad, November 30

Amid the raging row over his Pakistan visit, cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu said on Friday it was Congress president Rahul Gandhi who sent him there for attending the foundation laying ceremony of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor.

Read: Kartarpur Corridor: Capt-Sidhu ‘feud’ out in open

Making this statement in response to a question by the media in Hyderabad as to why did he not follow the suggestion of Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and refuse the invite of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Sidhu said he was asked by Rahul Gandhi to go to Pakistan.

Sidhu, who was in Hyderabad to campaign for the Congress-led Maha Kutami (grand alliance), was talking to reporters at the Gandhi Bhawan before participating in a road show.

On his return from Pakistan, Sidhu said his visit had provided a great opportunity to improve the relations between the two nations.

But on persistent questioning, he responded to the query saying “who captain, oh! Captain Amarinder Singh – he is a captain of the Army, my captain is Rahul Gandhi. Even his (Amarinder’s) captain is Rahul Gandhi”.

“What’s wrong with my going to Pakistan, on my return I have been congratulated by leaders such as Harish Rawat, Shashi Tharoor and Randeep Surjewala, appreciating my effort to normalise relations between the two nations,” he said.

Sidhu acknowledged that he had been stopped by Punjab chief minister from going to Pakistan, “but my captain is Rahul Gandhi and he asked me to go”, Sidhu responded.

He went on to add that he had been pursuing the Kartapur Corridor with the Pakistan Government in his personal capacity and said, “I had promised to come for the foundation stone laying and I kept my promise.”

Sidhu said he was a soldier of Rahul Gandhi and he has been saying,”Bure din jaane wale hain aur Rahul Gandhi aane wale hain, Lal Qila par jhanda pherane wale hain, koi rok sakey to rok ley” (Bad days are about to go and Rahul Gandhi is about to come, he will unfurl the flag on Red Fort, if anyone can stop that, let him try).