WATCH: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh criticizes Navjot Singh Sidhu

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has criticized Navjot Singh Sidhu for hugging Pakistan's Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa during the oath-taking ceremony of Imran Khan as Pakistan's Prime Minister on Saturday.

Sidhu's visit to Pakistan angered many within India, and the minister courted further controversy after hugging and embracing Pakistan's Army Chief, as well as sitting alongside Masood Khan, the President of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir(PoK), during the event. While Amarinder has defended Sidhu for attending the ceremony, but he is least impressed by the minister for hugging the Army chief.

"As far as attending the swearing-in ceremony is concerned, he went there in his personal capacity, so it has nothing to do with us. About him being seated next to the PoK President, maybe he (Sidhu) didn't know who he was. But as far as hugging the Pakistan Army Chief is concerned, I am not in its favor. It was wrong for him to have shown the affection towards the Pakistan Army Chief," the Punjab CM said.

Sidhu had positive words for Pakistan Army chief after the completion of the oath-taking ceremony. "Pakistan Army Chief hugged me and told 'we want peace'. It's my dream that we should unify. I will not forget this trip all of my life. We have same blood, same food, same culture. I am thankful to everyone that I got so much love and respect from Pakistan," he said.

WATCH: Navjot Singh Sidhu Defends His Decision To Visit Imran Khan's Oath-taking Ceremony In Pakistan

The Punjab minister stated that he went to Pakistan and at the ceremony as a friend, and not as a politician. He had said on Saturday, "I knew Imran saheb for the last 35 years. I have not come here for doing politics. Agar koi na aata yaha to bura lagta. I don't want to swim in red ocean." 

He reiterated his words on Sunday, saying, "There is no bigger treasure in this world than love and respect. If you will take out money from locker, it will decrease. But if you will spread love, it's going to increase by 100% and what I believe is it has not increased by 100%, but by 1000%. This is the most important point because I came here as a friend."

READ: 'Had Nobody Come, It Would Have Looked Bad', Says Navjot Singh Sidhu After Hugging The Pak Army Chief And Sitting Next To The PoK President At Imran Khan's Swearing-in

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