Haryana Minister Vij attacks Sidhu for attending Imran Khan's swearing-in
Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij lambasted cricketer-turned-politician and Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu today for attending the swearing-in of former cricketer Imran Khan as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Vij termed Sidhu's participation in the ceremony as an "act of disloyalty" towards India which "will not be endorsed by any patriotic citizen" of the country. "Friendship was not bigger than the country," Vij said.
Sidhu ignored the sentimental occasion of his country, says Vij
"The Union government has announced a seven-day national mourning following the death of former Prime Minister Vajpayee, but Sidhu preferred to join the swearing-in ceremony of Khan in Pakistan, ignoring the sentimental and grieved occasion of his country," Vij said.
Sidhu was among the special guests present at the ceremony
Khan, who famously captained the Pakistan cricket team to World Cup glory in 1992, had invited some of his former teammates and friends to witness his formal accession to the top ministerial job in the country. Wearing a blue suit and a purple turban, Sidhu was among the special guests present at the oath-taking ceremony at the Aiwan-e-Sadr (the President House) in Islamabad today.
Vij demands strict action against Sidhu for alleged 'anti-national' act
Vij said that at a time when most of the leaders of the ruling, as well as opposition parties, were present in Delhi to pay their tributes to Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, Sidhu was "enjoying Khan's celebration" in Islamabad. He demanded that the Punjab Chief Minister should take up the matter seriously and initiate "strict action" against Sidhu for his alleged "anti-national" act.
