Taking a cue from the legendary character of Tara Singh of the Bollywood film Gadar, controversial Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu has written a letter to the External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, stating that even if central government does not give him permission, he will go to Pakistan.
Sidhu had applied for permission for visiting Pakistan for the inauguration of the Kartarpur corridor. Sidhu lamented in the letter that despite sending repeated reminders for seeking permission to travel to Pakistan, he has not received any communication from the External Affairs Ministry.
Read: Pakistan’s official song on Kartarpur Corridor features Bhindranwale and other Khalistani terrorists
“The delay and no response is a hindrance to my future course of action. I categorically state that if the government has any inhibitions and say no then, as a law-abiding citizen, I will not go. But if you do not respond to my third letter, then I will proceed to Pakistan like millions of Sikh devotees go on eligible Visa,” Sidhu said.
This reminds one of the resolute determination exhibited by Tara Singh from the movie Gadar, in which actor Sunny Deol, playing Tara Singh, travels to Pakistan against significant odds to get his wife(Ameesha Patel) back to India. Ameesha Patel is held up in Pakistan against her wishes by her family who is attempting for her re-marriage in Pakistan. In the pursuit to get his wife back, a tenacious Tara Singh scares the bejesus out of thousands of Pakistanis by uprooting a hand-pump and consequently thwacks scores of Pakistanis trying to stop him from taking his wife back to India.
Meanwhile, MEA has said that Kartarpur inauguration is a historic event and should not highlight one individual. Responding to question on Sidhu’s reminder, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that they cannot afford to focus on an individual traveller.
Sidhu has displayed remarkable alacrity in desiring to visit Pakistan. Even during the foundation stone ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor, Sidhu champed at the bit of visiting Pakistan as soon as he received an invitation for the same from Pakistan PM Imran Khan. This was against the wishes of Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh, who had advised him to not visit Pakistan, claiming it might be a ruse by Pakistan to revive Khalistani terrorism. However, Sidhu did not heed his advice and enthusiastically proceeded to Pakistan.
Update: According to the latest report, at last the union government has granted political clearance to Sidhu.
Sources: Political clearance has been granted to Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu to travel through the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on 9th November. pic.twitter.com/vVfQexF5hz
— ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2019
News agency ANI reported that the Ministry of External Affairs has granted Navjot Singh Sidhu political clearance to travel through Kararpur Sahib Corridor on 9th November.
