Sidhu visits Pakistan, Poonawalla targets Gandhi's 'chela' for missing Vajpayee's funeral

Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu (C) gestures as he crosses the India Pakistan border in Wagah, about 35km from Amritsar. Photo: AFP

NEW DELHI: Former Indian cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu arrived in Pakistan on Friday to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister-in-waiting Imran Khan. Sidhu reached Lahore via Wagah border and will arrive in Islamabad for the oath-taking ceremony scheduled for Saturday. Speaking to reporters in Lahore, Sidhu said: "I have come to Pakistan on my friend's (Imran) invitation. These are very special moments." "Athletes and artists erase distances (between countries)... I have come here bearing the message of love, and prayers for Pakistanis," he added. "Hindustan jeevey, Pakistan jeevey!" Sidhu chanted as he welcomed the "change" in the country brought about by the advent of the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government. Rebel Congress leader Shehzad Poonawalla attacked Sidhu for visiting Pakistan while the country is mourning the death of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Calling the Punjab minister as Congress President Rahul Gandhi's "blue-eyed boy", Poonawalla tweetd: "Navjyot Sidhu - @RahulGandhi 's blue eyed boy may not be too concerned about Aṭal Bihari Vajpayee though country is in national mourning! Going to Pakistan to celebrate Imran Khan's swearing in is more important I guess! (sic)." In another tweet, Poonawalla referred to Sidhu as Gandhi's "chela".

Navjyot Sidhu - @RahulGandhi 's blue eyed boy may not be too concerned about Aṭal Bihari Vajpayee though country is in national mourning! Going to Pakistan to celebrate Imran Khan's swearing in is more important I guess! #AtaljiAmarRahen pic.twitter.com/lO6Z8QZAVI

— Shehzad Jai Hind (@Shehzad_Ind) August 17, 2018

Story of two mindsets & pictures

Pic 1: @narendramodi @AmitShah participating in #AtalBihariVajpayee 's Antim Yatra as nation mourns his loss Pic 2: Sidhu @RahulGandhi 's chela celebrating Imran Khan's swearing in while entering Pakistan through Wagah #AtaljiAmarRahen pic.twitter.com/No7SPQy4gW — Shehzad Jai Hind (@Shehzad_Ind) August 17, 2018

Khan, who was elected as Prime Minister after he won the trust vote on Friday, will take oath of his office on August 18. 176 members of the National Assembly voted in Khan's favour. His party had swept the July 25 general elections. Earlier this week, former Indian captain Kapil Dev said he will not be attending the oath-taking ceremony, citing "personal reasons". Dev was one of the three cricketers from India invited to attend Khan's swearing-in ceremony, along with Sidhu and Sunil Gavaskar. Gavaskar had also conveyed to Khan that he would not be able to attend the event due to prior work commitments. (With inputs from IANS)