Amritsar, Aug 21: Punjab Minister and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Tuesday defended hugging Pakistan's Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa at the swearing-in ceremony of new Prime Minister Imran Khan, citing past visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and late BJP veteran Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Pakistan. Sidhu said PM Modi visited Pakistan without invitation and why his patriotism was not questioned.

"In the past also efforts for peace have been made. The late Vajpayee ji had taken 'Dosti bus' to Lahore and invited Pervez Musharraf. PM Modi invited Nawaz Sharif to his oath-taking ceremony. He also made a surprise visit to Lahore. Why wasn't his patriotism questioned?" Sidhu said. He added that it was Qamar Bajwa who came to hug him and not vice versa. "The hug was a human reaction," the Punjab minister said.

Sidhu refused to comment on Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh who said that his minister's hug to Bajwa was "not a nice gesture and was completely avoidable". "Many people from Congress have spoken on this including Captain Sahab. Its a democracy and everyone has the right to their opinion," Sidhu said. He added that he went to Pakistan after getting all clearance from the Indian government.

I received invitation ten times. Then I sought permission from the Indian government, I didn't get permission and was waiting. Two days after Pakistan government gave a visa, Sushma Swaraj ji herself called me in the night and informed that I had been given permission," he said.

Sidhu held the press conference a day after a case was filed against him for insulting Indian Army by hugging Pakistan Army Chief at the swearing-in of Imran Khan as Prime Minister of that country.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 21, 2018 01:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).