As the consequence of Pakistan’s general elections, the flamboyant ex-cricketer Imran Khan emerged victorious. The presence of glamour and sports stars was a foregone conclusion at his swearing-in ceremony.
Given his history and reputation, friends on this side of the border (India) is just natural. Amir Khan, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, and Navjot Singh Siddhu were cordially invited to the swearing-in ceremony of the new Prime Minister. While rest of them declined to cite one reason or the other, Siddhu was seen enthusiastic about the whole affair.
Did Siddhu wronged the nation by going to Pakistan
The answer on the outset is ”NO”, but when one goes into finer details echoes of “YES” or “ MAYBE” are faint yet strong. Like every possible real-life situation, the answer lies not in the BLACK or WHITE, but in the GREY.
As a private citizen Siddhu did no wrong in accepting Imran Khan’s invitation, but, Navjot Singh Siddhu is not just a private citizen! He is a celebrity and holds an executive office under the Government of Punjab, thereby an important link in the Official machinery of the Sovereign State of the Republic of India.
He may well argue, that he was there for his friend on his big day, but the optics that came from the event narrate a story far less idealistic for him or for his country (which is India, as we all know).
What was right about his visit 
He went there as a friend of Imran Khan who was to be sworn in as the Prime minister of Pakistan, and not as an official representative of India (Indian High Commission officials must have represented Indian Government).
He took prior permissions from the Ministry of External Affairs of India and obtained a valid visa to do so.
What was wrong with his Visit
While the argument of being there as a private citizen holds good on paper, it falls flat in practice. He can’t disassociate himself from his very public and celebrity status, which he en-cashes for a living. He was not merely Navjot Singh Siddhu a citizen, but a minister and a celeb as well, and in times like these when the situation in Kashmir and on borders is bleak and a titan like Vajpayee expired, the visit could have been avoided.
Was MEA’s permission sought? And if yes, why did MEA allow him to go?
As a country where rule of law prevails, a private citizen doesn’t need government’s sanction on petty issues of travel etc., but Navjot Singh Siddhu being a minister needs government’s sanction to travel abroad. Hence, the permission was sought and given.
Had MEA not permitted Siddhu some naysayers would have raised the bogey of freedoms and present government being a police state. As it was a routine process so was taken in that spirit and all said and done, permission was given.
What went wrong and why the visit reflects foul on not just on Siddhu – THE OPTICS.
At the event, Navjot Singh Siddhu was focused to polish the credentials of the new regime that it’s so sanguine and pious that it wants better relations with India (while the reality lies to the contrary, as the same day encounter was on in Kashmir).
The bigger foul optics were he seen sitting adjacent to the President of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Pakistan carries a charade that PoK is autonomous and has its own system. This can be anything but the truth. As the present President of PoK or Azad Kashmir (as Pakistan’s regime likes to call it) is an ex-Pakistan diplomat.
Another overshadow on the legitimacy of the visit was ‘hugging’ Pakistan Army Chief and the jubilatory mood reflected by Navjot Singh Siddhu. While at such an event one can’t ignore others, he could have just let it pass by a handshake or at best a namaskar.
As a person who has been in politics and public life for long enough to know India’s stated positions about Pakistan, the above occurrences could have been avoided. He should have ideally insisted on a different sitting arrangement for himself and should have kept his distance with the Army Chief. ‘Punjabi warmth’ is fabulous but should not override national positions.
Nefarious Designs of Pakistan and how they made a pawn of Siddhu
Firstly, it divided opinion makers and citizens among Indians about his righteousness to visit at such juncture. Secondly, the images which got aired all over the world presented Navjot Singh Siddhu as a minister in an Indian system sitting next to President Of PoK. Hence, bolstering Pakistani positions on the issue, and as a consequence of putting India’s position in jeopardy.
The deep states conspiracy doesn’t end here. Lately, there has been a concerted attempt by Pakistan to prop up KHALISTANI elements, as a severe crackdown on anti-national forces in Kashmir is choking Pakistan’s proxies of oxygen in the valley.
A recent event in London – ‘KHALISTAN 2020 REFERENDUM’ — was found to be Pakistan backed. Although the nationalist Sikh groups and other Indian organizations called Pakistan’s bluff on it, the optics coming out from Imran Khan’s swearing-in ceremony might be used to flare up anti-nationalist sentiment in India in the coming days.
Commentators View
It is often said that the generations forget the context, or the context gets blurred and dusted over time, PICTURES DON’T. So, while the storm around this visit will settle down soon, optics will stay and will be used by Pakistan to project itself as a peacenik (while the truth is contrary), hence undermining India’s stand. Therefore, even if citizen Navjot Singh Siddhu deemed it right to visit Pakistan for a friend on his big day, it should have been the Indian Navjot Singh Siddhu who could have avoided such optics.
The Commentator's Post 