Hugs common among Punjabis, it was not Rafale deal: Sidhu defends hugging Pak army chief

Sidhu, who is in Lahore for the Kartarpur corridor ground-breaking ceremony, addressed the media on Tuesday saying, "The hug was hardly for a second, it was not a Rafale deal."

Navjot Singh Sidhu is in Lahore for the Kartarpur corridor foundation laying ceremony. (PTI photo)

Months after Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu landed in a major controversy for hugging Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, he defended the act again on Tuesday saying it was only a hug, a very Punjabi way of greeting, nothing like the Rafale deal.

Sidhu, who is in Lahore for the Kartarpur corridor ground-breaking ceremony, addressed the media on Tuesday saying, "The hug was hardly for a second, it was not a Rafale deal."

While defending himself, he also managed to take a jibe at the Modi government over the Rafale deal and added, "When two Punjabis meet they hug each other, it is normal practice in Punjab."

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The hug(with Pakistan Army Chief) was for hardly a second, it was not a #RafaleDeal . When two Punjabis meet they hug each other, its normal practice in Punjab.: Navjot Sidhu in Lahore

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3:56 PM - Nov 27, 2018

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Speaking on the Kartapar passage for Sikh pilgrims from India, Sidhu said, "I feel that the corridor will be a bridge between the two countries and reduce the enmity. It will increase people to people connect and bring peace."

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will perform the ground-breaking ceremony for the politically significant Kartarpur corridor on Wednesday.

The Pakistani government had invited External Affairs Ministry Sushma Swaraj and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, too, for the ceremony, who turned down the invites.