India lawyer wants Sidhu tried for treason over Pakistan visit

The Bharatiya Janata Party had earlier termed the cricketer-turned-politician's conduct "shameful"

A Bihar lawyer on Monday moved court against cricketer-turned-host-turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu for 'insulting the Indian Army', Hindustan Times reported.

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Lawyer Sudhir Ojha, who has a history of initiating legal procedings against celebrities, alleged Sidhu had 'insulted' families of Indian soldiers 'killed by Pakistan Army and terrorists sponsored by the country'. This, the Indian National Congress (INC) politician had done by embracing Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Bajwa at Prime Minister Imran Khan's swearing-in ceremony, Ojha said. The Bihar lawyer also said in his petition that it was unbecoming of the Comedy Nights star to have proceeded to Pakistan at a time when India mourned former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

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“I have urged the court to book Siddhu under IPC sections 124 A, 153 B and 504 for hurting the nation’s sentiments and order for his arrest,” he said. Ojha said the pertinent court had admitted his plea and was slated to hear it on August 24.

Sidhu has been in hot water over his Pakistan visit. Indian Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, also affiliated with the INC, distanced the government from his party peer saying the government had nothing to do with what was a private visit. He also rapped the Indian Punjab minister for 'having shown affection towards the Pakistan army chief'. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), separately, termed the visit "shameful".

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“If someone (General Bajwa) comes to me and says we belong to the same culture and we (Pakistan) will open Kartarpur border on Guru Nanak Dev’s 550th birth anniversary, what else do I do?” Sidhu said while making his stance clear. “If you are invited as a guest of honour you sit wherever you are asked to," he said in response to being pictured seated alongside Azad Jammu and Kashmir President President Masood Khan.

This story originally appeared in Hindustan Times.