New Delhi: Punjab cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu courted a new controversy during his Pakistan visit for the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor foundation laying ceremony, by getting clicked with Khalistani leader Gopal Singh Chawala. The Khalistani militant shared his image with Sidhu on his Facebook wall, drawing stern criticism for the Punjab minister from the opposition leaders.


Chawla was seen with Pakistan Army Chief  Bajwa yesterday in the Kartarpur Sahib corridor foundation laying function.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa asked for Sidhu’s resignation. In a tweet he attacked both Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Sidhu over the picture with an “anti-Punjab” and “anti-India” person.

“Amarinder Singh declined to visit Pakistan because Pakistan supports anti-India and anti-Punjab activities but his own Minister Sidhu goes against his wishes and gets clicked with Gopal S Chawla who is a close aide of Hafiz Saeed and an anti-India person” he tweeted.

Sirsa also tweeted an image of Chawla with LeT leader and Mumbai attack Mastermind Hafiz Saeed. And questioned  Imran Khan for supporting those who wage war against India’s sovereignty.

He further asked if Captain Amarinder would sack Sidhu for the “irresponsible act”.






Sidhu was invited by Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to attend ground breaking ceremony of the proposed corridor on Wednesday.

Sidhu had courted a huge controversy by hugging Pakistan’s Army Chief general Qamar Javed Bajwa, when he visited Pakistan the last time during the swearing-in ceremony of his cricketer-turned-Prime Minister friend Imran Khan.

The Kartarpur Sahib Corridor when complete will facilitate the passage of Sikh pilgrims to the significant Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara located in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab.