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Updated November 28th, 2018 at 18:36 IST

After praising Navjot Singh Sidhu, Pak PM Imran Khan defends Sidhu-Bajwa hug. Read the story here

Pakistan PM Imran Khan stoked controversy by defending Navjot Singh Sidhu's hug to Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwaa. The cricketer-turned politician was addressing the gathering at the Kartarpur Corridor foundation stone-laying event on Wednesday.

Reported by: Apoorva Rao
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Pakistan PM Imran Khan has stoked controversy by defending Navjot Singh Sidhu's hug to Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. The cricketer-turned politician was addressing the gathering at the Kartarpur Corridor foundation stone-laying event on Wednesday.

Last time when Sidhu returned from here three months ago, he was criticised a lot. I still haven't understood why he was criticised. A person has come with the message of peace and brotherhood, what crime is he committing? And he is talking of friendship between two nations that are nuclear-armed. Both nations have nuclear weapons. So war obviously can't happen. Two nations that are nuclear-armed, it's madness to think of war. The person who thinks he can win a nuclear war is foolish. Everybody will lose that war. If nobody wants war then is there any other option but friendship? So what crime did Sidhu commit by coming here? And Sidhu, let me tell you something that I have been seeing here. You come here and fight elections, you will win for sure, especially in Punjab. 

Pakistan PM Imran Khan also was full of praises for the Punjab minister and even said that he will win if he contested elections here.

"You come here and fight elections in Punjab, you'll win," he said.

WATCH: Imran Khan's 'Sidhu For PM' Pitch At Event To Taunt India

Here is the full speech by Imran Khan:

"I welcome all the Sikhs to Pakistan. If I try to explain the happiness in the faces of Indians it is just like Muslims who want to visit Medina but are four kms away from it, 
and cannot go there because of a border issue...

My friend Navjot Singh Sidhu, I am happy with what he has said. I knew he had a lot of knowledge on cricket but I am impressed by Sidhu's knowledge on Sufi literature.

I have played cricket for 21 years and been in politics for 22 years. I have seen two types of players in cricket. One who feared losing and would only think of losing and the other who thought what will happen when I win; and the other one always became the champion. The day I came to politics I saw that sadly that there were politicians who entered politics for selfish reasons, they adhered to the public opinion for selfish reasons. Then there were others who did not gather votes by spreading animosity. The politician who dreamed for the nation, not for himself, always won.

This is where India and Pakistan are today. For 70 years, we have seen the same issues, I would say that mistakes were made by both the countries, but we can't move on till the blame game goes on. We take a step forward and two steps back. We can live peacefully. France and Germany can live together, they have open borders, they never think of war even though they were at war once. If they can form a union then why can't we? Today, I am saying that the political parties, our army, all are on the same page. We want to move ahead. 

People are saying politicians want peace across the border but army won't make it happen, but I promise that we will unite.

We have had wars but it was nothing like what happened over there. Our only issue is Kashmir. We need a decisive leadership on both sides which says we want to solve their issue. There is nothing that cannot be solved. We need to dream big. If our relationship is sorted there is so much potential. We will be benefited so much. I want a strong relationship with India, in order to end the war. There is nothing that cannot be solved.

I hope that I don't have to wait for Sidhu to become Prime Minister for there to be friendship between India and Pakistan. I hope such leadership comes that has the strength...Look at the history of humankind. When a leadership takes a stand, anything is possible

China, for instance, has fought so many wars, but their leaders think of the future. They have stopped the war in the country within 30 years.

Last time when Sidhu returned from here three months ago, he was criticised a lot. I still haven't understood why he was criticised. A person has come with the message of peace and brotherhood, what crime is he committing? And he is talking of friendship between two nations that are nuclear-armed. Both nations have nuclear weapons. So war obviously can't happen. Two nations that are nuclear-armed, it's madness to think of war. The person who thinks he can win a nuclear war is foolish. Everybody will lose that war. If nobody wants war then is there any other option but friendship? So what crime did Sidhu commit by coming here? And Sidhu, let me tell you something that I have been seeing here. You come here and fight elections, you will win for sure, especially in Punjab."

 

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Published November 28th, 2018 at 17:53 IST

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