Lahore, November 27: Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Sidhu reiterated his defence on hugging Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa in August this year, calling it a normal practice of embracing each other in the Punjabi culture. Sidhu made the remarks in Lahore, where he was invited by Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of Kartarpur corridor.

On being confronted by Pakistani media over the flak generated by him back at home for hugging Gen Bajwa, Sidhu said the criticism is uncalled for. Quipping with a jibe at the ruling BJP government at the Centre, the senior Congress leader said his interaction with the Pakistani Army chief was not a "Rafale deal" -- the controversy-marred defence pact inked between the India and France-based Dassault Aviation. Navjot Singh Sidhu Crosses Attari-Wagah Border, Says 'I am Messenger of Guru Nanak'.

"The hug (with Pakistan Army Chief) was for hardly a second, it was not a Rafale Deal . When two Punjabis meet they hug each other. It's a normal practice in Punjab," he said.

Watch Sidhu Defending Hug With Gen Bajwa:

Earlier today, Sidhu crossed the Atari-Wagah border to attend the ground-breaking ceremony of Kartarpur Sahib corridor, scheduled on November 28.

Sidhu said the corridor "will be a bridge and erase enmity". He further added, "It will increase people to people contact and bring peace. It is my belief that there are possibilities in it."

The Indian government on the eve of Guru Nanak Gurpurab, on November 22 approved the building and development of Kartarpur Corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to India-Pakistan International Border.

Following this, the Pakistan government announced to open the corridor next year.

The Kartarpur route along the India-Pakistan border is three kilometers away from Gurdaspur, Punjab. If opened, it would allow Sikh pilgrims a direct access to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan, where Guru Nanak died in 1539.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 27, 2018 05:16 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).