Sidhu bats for Indo-Pak peace

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Attari, August 17

Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu walked across the Attari-Wagah border on Friday afternoon to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Pakistan’s Prime Minister-elect Imran Khan.

Amid criticism for skipping the funeral of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was supposed to be his mentor in politics, Sidhu proceeded towards Lahore to take flight to Islamabad for the ceremony scheduled for Saturday.

Ignoring the critics, he said, “Dunia mein sabse bada rog — mere baare mein kya kahenge log.”

After getting the mandatory clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs, Sidhu received a call from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. He said, “I was awaiting clearance for my visit to Pakistan when I was surprised that Madam Sushma called me personally to intimate that the clearance had been granted.”

Imran Khan, former captain of Pakistan team, will be sworn in as the Prime Minister on August 18, after his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won the July 25 General Election.

Before crossing over to Wagah, Sidhu expressed his feelings by saying, “Hindustan jeeve te Pakistan jeeve, hasda wasda eh sara jahan jeeve... Te aan baan shaan naal, pyar aman te khushhali ban ke mera yaar Imran Khan jeeve.”

Sidhu has arranged a special pashmina shawl for Khan as a gift. He said he was excited to meet his friend, with whom he had shared a relationship for the past 35 years.

“I am going as a goodwill messenger of peace and tranquillity at a time when Pakistan is going to see a revolutionary change in the democratic set-up. Since I am representing India, this small gift is on behalf of India for Khan sahib, who extended a personal invitation to me. I will try to work towards strengthening the trade and cultural ties between the two nations,” he said.

Sidhu has got a 15-day visa for Lahore and Islamabad.

Besides Sidhu, Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, too, were invited for the oath-taking ceremony but they could not make it due to earlier engagements or personal reasons.