The inauguration of Kartarpur Corridor in Pakistan has not been free from controversy, especially for some Indian politicians and journalists who were extremely excited at the prospect of travelling to Pakistan.
Navjot Singh Sidhu has been in the middle of the political storm after his repeated shenanigans with Pakistan. First, when he travelled to Pakistan for Imran Khan’s swearing-in ceremony and hugged the Pakistan Army’s chief and now, for this enthusiasm during the Kartarpur inauguration. Sidhu, on his trip to Pakistan this time, was heavily criticised by Captain Amarinder Singh, the Chief Minister of Punjab who had declined the invite to travel. In the face of that criticism, Sidhu was heard saying that he went because Rahul Gandhi wanted him to travel. In fact, a video surfaced where he also spoke about Rahul Gandhi proving Sidhu with a special plane so he could travel to Pakistan on time.
After a picture of Sidhu with Khalistani terrorist Gopal Singh Chawla went viral, along with his statements putting Rahul Gandhi in the middle of the storm, the party would have presumably been jittery.
In the face of such mounting criticism, Sidhu decided to lie blatantly. He took to Twitter on 30th November and said that “Rahul Gandhi Ji never asked me to go to Pakistan”.
Get your facts right before you distort them,
Rahul Gandhi Ji never asked me to go to Pakistan.
The whole world knows I went on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s personal invite.— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) November 30, 2018
This U-turn by Sidhu is interesting and disingenuous because he has clearly been mentioning “captain” Rahul Gandhi’s blessing as far these travel arrangements went.
Here is a video of Navjot Singh Sidhu talking about his “captain” Rahul Gandhi and how he sent Sidhu to Pakistan.
#WATCH Navjot Singh Sidhu, Congress in Hyderabad: Mere captain Rahul Gandhi hain, unhone toh bheja hai har jagah (for #KartarpurCorridor). Hamare Captain sahab ke bhi Captain Rahul Gandhi ji hain’ pic.twitter.com/XmagrUgfWw
— ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2018
In this video reported by CNN-News18, Sidhu can be heard talking about how Rahul Gandhi sent a special plane to enable his travel plans to Pakistan.
#NewsAlert — @sherryontopp’s visit was not personal; @RahulGandhi ensured that Sidhu went to Pakistan. A special plane was sent by Rahul to enable the visit. #KartarpurCorridor #KartarpurWar #TheRightStand with @AnchorAnandN. pic.twitter.com/a805zY7Den
— News18 (@CNNnews18) November 29, 2018
It is thus amusing the Sidhu believes his half hearted brazen lie would convince anyone that he did not have Rahul Gandhi’s explicit blessing while travelling to Pakistan and embracing Imran Khan. It seems like the political frenzy after he was photographed with Khalistani terrorist Chawla is what is compelling Sidhu and the Congress party to lie in order to do some much needed damage control.
