Sidhu slapped with sedition charges for hugging Pakistan Army Chief
What's the story
Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu had already courted controversy when he hugged Pakistan's army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, during newly-elected Pakistan PM Imran Khan's oath taking ceremony. Now, Sidhu has been slapped with a sedition case for his actions. The case was filed by a lawyer in a court in Bihar's Muzaffarpur. However, the identity of the plaintiff isn't known. Here's more.
Controversy
Context: All about Sidhu's controversial visit to Pakistan
Sidhu's visit to Pakistan has become rather controversial when the politician was seen hugging General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Things took a turn for the worse when he was seen sitting next to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's (PoK) President, Masood Khan. The BJP called Sidhu's actions "shameful", and even Sidhu's own boss, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh expressed his anger at his actions.
Quote
Punjab CM Amarinder Singh's statement about Sidhu's hug
"Everyday our jawans are getting martyred. To hug their Chief General Bajwa...I am against this. The fact is that the man [Sidhu] should understand that our soldiers are being killed," Captain Amarinder Singh had said, hinting at a growing rift within the Punjab Congress.
Justification
What Sidhu said to justify his actions
However, on his return to India, Sidhu justified his actions, saying that General Bajwa, a Jat like himself, "was very warm" and "wanted peace". Additionally, Sidhu said that Bajwa had promised to open the Dera Baba Nanak (Kartarpur) corridor on Guru Nanak's 550th birth anniversary. "When someone takes the name of Baba Nanak, then he has offered you everything," Sidhu said, explaining his actions.