Sidhu controversy: Imran Khan calls Sidhu an "ambassador of peace"
What's the story
Navjot Singh Sidhu has been embroiled in controversy ever since he visited Pakistan for Imran Khan's oath taking ceremony, and hugged Pakistani Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. The past few days saw Sidhu draw sharp criticism and get slapped with a sedition charge. However, now, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has come to his defense, and has called him an "ambassador of peace".
Khan's words
What Imran Khan had to say about Sidhu
Taking to Twitter, Khan thanked Sidhu for attending his oath taking ceremony, and said that people in India who have targeted him for his hug are doing a great "disservice to peace in the subcontinent". "Without peace our [people] cannot progress," Khan added. He also said that India and Pakistan needed to engage in dialogue to solve issues, including Kashmir.
Twitter Post
Khan's tweet about Sidhu, and peace between India, Pakistan
I want to thank Sidhu for coming to Pakistan for my oath taking. He was an ambassador of peace was given amazing love affection by ppl of Pakistan. Those in India who targeted him are doing a gt disservice to peace in the subcontinent - without peace our ppl cannot progress
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 21, 2018
Sidhu's comments
Sidhu had said that his visit to Pakistan wasn't political
Interestingly, Khan's remarks came shortly after Congress leader and Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu commented on the controversy and said that his visit to Pakistan was "not political in any way but just a warm invitation from a friend". Sidhu had earlier said that he hugged General Bajwa in an emotional moment when the latter took Guru Nanak's name.