It was a second-long hug, not Rafale deal, says Navjot Singh Sidhu

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It was a second-long hug, not Rafale deal, says Navjot Singh Sidhu
It was a second-long hug, not Rafale deal, says Navjot Singh Sidhu

New Delhi : Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu's hug to Pakistan Army chief during his visit to the neighbouring nation for the swearing in ceremony of Imran Khan as Prime Minister had attracted a lot of criticism. Now, the cricketer-turned-politician, who is travelling for the ground-breaking ceremony of Kartarpur Sahib corridor, reiterated that it was just a hug and "not the Rafale deal".

"It was a second-long hug, not a Rafale deal. It's very common in Punjab. When two Punjabis meet, if they want to express gratitude, they hug each other emotionally. It is a way to show warmth and affection," Mr Sidhu told reporters in Lahore.

The Bharatiya Janata Party on the other hand slammed Congress for taking Rafale deal to Pakistan. "Insanity is contagious. Sidhu carries Rahul Gandhi's falsehood against Rafale purchase to Pakistan. He found allies there," said a tweet on the BJP official handle.

Another tweet said, "Snide remarks against Indian government. Pakistani PM is described as a farishta. Have we heard of Trojan Horses?"

Sidhu's decision to attend the Kartarpur Sahib corridor ceremony has also irked his boss Amarinder Singh, who had turned down Islamabad's invite over terror attacks in Pathankot and recently Amritsar.

"The man (Sidhu) should understand that our soldiers are being killed every day. My own regiment lost one major and two jawans a few months ago," Captain Singh had said.