Minister Punjab, Navjot Singh Sidhu’s ‘Hug’ plomacy
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Highlights By: Balbir Singh Sooch-Sikh Vichar Manch
Minister Punjab, Navjot Singh Sidhu’s 'Hug'plomacy
Former Indian cricketer turned politician and the Current Tourism Minister of the Government of Punjab, Navjot Singh Sidhu’s 'Hug'plomacy’ With Qamar Javed Bajwa, the Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army. 'Hug'plomacy: Embrace Affectionately; ‘to put your arms round somebody's body and hold the person tight to show affection or pleasure’
In August 2018, former Indian cricketer turned politician and current Tourism Minister of the Government of Punjab, Navjot Singh Sidhu was invited to the oath taking ceremony of the newly elected prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan. After being attacked over his decision to hug Qamar Javed Bajwa, the Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army, Sidhu claimed that Bajwa had assured him of opening the corridor before the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.[*10]
Subsequently, Government of Pakistan in September 2018, decided to open the corridor before the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak for visa free entry of followers of Sikhism from India to Pakistan. [**12] The step was highly appreciated by Sikh community. After the corridor opening was confirmed by Pakistan's information minister Fawad Chaudhry, Navjot Singh Sidhu appreciated his close friend Imran Khan for taking such a great step. [***13]
[*10] Punjab: Kartarpur corridor mission for 24 yrs, he now sees hope: BS Goraya has been relentless in his demand since 1994: last updated: Aug 23, 2018, 3:19 PM (IST): Kartarpur corridor mission for 24 yrs, he now sees hope: Bhabishan Singh Goraya; Reported by Jupinderjit Singh; Tribune News Service; Chandigarh, August 22, 2018
Away from the political clamour over the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, a man in Amritsar and his group of friends have been quietly pursuing the cause for the past 24 years.
With the matter assuming importance after Punjab Cultural and Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu’s Pakistan visit, Bhabishan Singh Goraya, 67, who belongs to Awawalpur village in Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdaspur, is hopeful that the corridor may be finally opened for the 550th birth anniversary of founder of the Sikh faith Guru Nanak.
He visited Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan in 1994. Disappointed to see the shrine in a shambles, he started writing letters to influential persons and raising billboards near Darshan Point on the India-Pakistan border where Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib can be sighted with the help of binoculars.
Along with his supporters, he has been holding ‘ardas’ at the site every 15 days, hoping their wish will be granted some day.
Besides his brother Raghbir Singh and friends Dr Balbir Dhingra, Bhajan Singh, Gurbachan Singh and Raj Singh, who is 93, Goraya has been pursuing the matter relentlessly for over two decades, despite harassment at the hands of Intelligence officials questioning his motive.
In 2008, Pranab Mukherjee, then External Affairs Minister, visited Darshan Point and announced that the corridor would be opened soon, he recalls. “Many other politicians promised likewise. Nothing of the sort happened. Nevertheless, people on both sides of the border did not despair and kept raising the demand persistently.”
Goraya is aware of the enormity of the task. “I understand it is a huge security risk for both countries. It will require a level of trust never seen before between the governments and the forces of both countries. Managing the rush of devotees would be a mammoth job too,” he says.
Goraya and his group ran into controversy just before the elections last year when they raised huge hoardings about their demand and criticised the NDA government for initiating talks with China over Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. but taking no such step with Pakistan on the Kartarpur Sahib corridor. Reported by Jupinderjit Singh; Tribune News Service; Chandigarh, August 22, 2018: [*10]
[***13]Sikhs to get visa-free access to Kartarpur gurdwara: Pakistan: TNN | Updated: September 8, 2018, 08:24 IST: [**12]
Sidhu thanks ‘friend’ Imran for Kartarpur corridor announcement: September 7, 2018 Author: CanIndia New Wire Service
Chandigarh, Sep 7 (IANS) Defending his earlier stand on the opening of Kartarpur corridor by Pakistan, Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday thanked his “friend” Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for enabling the opening of the religious corridor.
The Kartarpur corridor will allow pilgrims from India to go to a gurdwara in Pakistan, close to the India-Pakistan border, which is associated with Sikhism founder Guru Nanak .
“Ajj meri zindagi safal ho gayi (Today, I have succeeded in life),” a visibly charged Sidhu told the media here on Friday, claiming that PM Imran Khan had lived up to his promise of opening the religiously crucial corridor.
Sidhu even claimed that the Pakistan government had invited the government of India for talks on the Kartarpur corridor issue.
“See what my friend has done. I thank you Khan Saab (Imran Khan) a million times for doing this,” Sidhu said, adding that things happened with the blessings of Guru Nanak.
Sidhu took a dig at those, meaning the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which criticized him for his statements earlier on the issue and the hug that he gave to Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa during the swearing-in ceremony of Imran Khan as Pakistan’s Prime Minister in Islamabad last month.
Cricketer-turned-politician was under fire from the BJP leadership for his hug with General Bajwa.
Sidhu said that the Pakistan government has stated that Indian pilgrims will be allowed to visit the Sikh shrine through the Kartarpur corridor without visa.
It was at the Kartarpur Gurdwara, which is located around four km from the India-Pakistan international border and right opposite the border belt in Dera Baba Nanak in India’s Punjab’s Gurdaspur district, that Guru Nanak spent 18 years of his life till he died in 1539.
The Gurdwara, which fell in the Pakistan territory following the partition of India in August 1947, has big significance for Sikh religion and history”. [***13]
Highlights Forwarded By: Balbir Singh Sooch-Sikh Vichar Manch
First Posted On: September 27, 2018, 8:03 PM (IST)
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Minister Punjab, Navjot Singh Sidhu’s 'Hug'plomacy