Prime Minister Narendra Modi was first accused of hugging too many heads of state even when they apparently did not fully reciprocate that hug. Most times the hugs looked contrived and appeared to be photo-ops occasions only. Then Congress President, Rahul Gandhi, recently broke all protocol by walking towards the Prime Minister in the middle of his speech in parliament and giving him a bear hug. Needless to say Modi was stumped and he reacted rather clumsily. Later Rahul Gandhi winked at his MP colleagues as if to communicate to them in sign language that he had scored a phenomenal political goal. Now it is the turn of Navjot Singh Sidhu, former cricketer and now a Congress MLA in Punjab and minister in the Amarinder Singh government. Sidhu was invited by the former Pakistani cricket team captain Imran Khan who was recently elected to the Pakistan Parliament, to his swearing-in ceremony. Imran Khan was sworn in as the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan on August 19.
Everything seemed fine until the Pakistan government strategically seated Sidhu next to the President of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), Masood Khan, during the swearing-in ceremony. That was seen by Indian media as a political affront considering India’s discomfort with this disputed territory. Later Sidhu also hugged the Pakistan army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and explained the reasons for doing so. He said it was an emotional response since General Bajwa said he was making efforts to open the corridor from Dera Baba Nanak to Kartarpur Sahab so pilgrims from India can pay obeisance to Guru Nanak.
Things should have been allowed to cool down and the media could have got on with other more important issues but that was not to be. Sidhu who is remembered for his comedy show was pilloried for attending Imran Khan’s swearing ceremony while missing out on Vajpayee’s funeral. Former Indian cricket captains Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev besides actor Amir Khan were also invited for the swearing in but they politely declined. Imran Khan has now made a big deal out of Sidhu’s attendance, calling it a symbol of goodwill and future peace initiatives. Whether that happens is immaterial but for now Sidhu is seen in many quarters as one who has transgressed the boundaries of political correctness, considering that Indian soldiers are being killed very often by Pakistani shelling from across the border.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi is currently on a European tour ostensibly to solicit the support of non-resident Indians for the parliamentary elections scheduled for early 2019. While in Germany Rahul Gandhi was asked about the hug he gave to PM Modi and what his feelings were thereafter. So hugs seem to be the flavour of the season even while other more pressing matters are pushed to the backburner.