AMRITSAR: Why Navjot Singh Sidhu , the man who, till recently, took pride in calling himself ‘Vajpayee sab da Sipahi” (soldier of Vajpayee) chose not to attend the funeral of his political godfather and instead preferred to attend the swearing-in ceremony of his cricketing days friend Imran Khan as prime minister of Pakistan?

Sidhu on Friday crossed over to Pakistan from Attari to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Pakistan’s prime minister-elect Imran Khan at Islamabad.

In 2004, when Sidhu had returned from Pakistan via the same border after completing his commentary assignment of Indo Pak cricket series he had announced joining of BJP but refused to contest elections. It was only after Vajpayee called him, Sidhu decided to contest Amritsar Lok Sabha seat and defeated Congress party’s old horse Raghunandal Lal Bhatia, six-time member parliament.

In every election rally, Sidhu would proudly introduce himself as ‘Vajpayee sab da Sipahi”

It was in 2007 Amritsar Lok Sabha by elections that Vajpayee had delivered his last political speech in support of Sidhu.

Reacting to Sidhu’s Pakistan visit over attending Vajpayee’s funeral ceremony, state BJP spokesperson Rajesh Honey alleged “He is not only a most insensitive but an opportunist person, he has gone to Pakistan hoping to get international media mileage forgetting the fact that it was Vajpayee who brought him into politics and today is his funeral.“

BJP’s national secretary Tarun Chugh said that Sidhu had gone to Pakistan in his personal capacity and he was not representing India. “He should have thought twice before taking a decision, not only it is the funeral of Vajpayee whom he used to call is political godfather but almost every day Pakistan was killing our jawan’s on the border”

Party’s former state vice-president Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina said that Sidhu had gone to Pakistan at a time when relations between two nations were not cordial. “He chose to prefer his friend’s ceremony over his political godfather’s “ he alleged. He said Sidhu should have wisely decided over his Pakistan visit given the fact that none of the prominent political leader or even player had gone to the neighbouring nation.

Meanwhile lamenting the demise of Vajapyee, senior vice president of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry Ladies Organization (FLO), Amritsar chapter, Arushi Verma recalled late prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee ’s speech delivered on August 15, 2011, wherein he had laid stress on women empowerment.

“Vajpayee had talked about imparting greater momentum to the implementation of programmes aimed at the welfare of mothers, sisters, and girls and he had hailed self Help Groups for beginning a silent socio-economic revolution and we are working with the same spirit,” said Arushi.

