Amritsar, November 28: Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri today took a jibe on the bonhomie of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Navjot Singh Sidhu. While interacting with media after coming back to India, Puri said, “Khan Invited Sidhu to contest election in Pakistan. I didn't ask him (Sidhu) what was his reaction, if he is shifting his constituency.” The Union Minister also said that the matter of opening the Kartarpur Corridor was raise during the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during his Lahore visit of 1999 and Parkash Singh Badal was also part of the delegation.

After returning to India, Harsimrat Kaur Badal also responded to Khan's comment on Kashmir. Badal said, “I have told their media (Pakistan media) that Kashmir is a part of India & will stay that way. There is no scope of negotiation on this. I have told this clearly.” Both the members of Indian delegation after attending the groundbreaking ceremony of the corridor returned to India through Attari border. Kartarpur Corridor: How to Reach Dera Baba Nanak to Visit Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan From Various Cities of India

Earlier in the day, the Pakistan PM laid the foundation stone of the Corridor connecting the Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan to Dera Baba Nanak in India. While addressing the gathering after the ceremony, Khan said that Sidhu had gained popularity in Pakistan and he could win an election here. Khan also expressed disappointment over Sidhu's criticism by the Indian media, calling it unfair and unsubstantiated.

“I don't know why was Sidhu criticised (in India). He was just talking about peace. He can come and contest election here in Pakistan's Punjab, he'll win," Khan said at the event marking the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor. Speaking on the Kashmir issue, the Pakistan PM said that the issue would be resolved through dialogue. "When human can reach the moon, then there is nothing in the world they can't do. Every problem has a solution. And so does the issue of Kashmir.” He also said that Kashmir is the only issue between the two countries.

Meanwhile, on November 26, Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu on laid the foundation stone of Kartarpur corridor in Gurdaspur. The corridor will be opened for Sikh pilgrims on the 550th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 28, 2018 08:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).