<p>Islamabad [Pakistan], Aug 18 (ANI): Navjot Singh Sidhu was deliberately made to sit next to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) president Masood Khan during the swearing-in ceremony of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday.</p><p>According to informed sources in Pakistan, Indian cricketer-turned politician Sidhu was initially sitting in one of the back rows, next to former Pakistani cricketer Wasim Akram and others. However, managers at the \'Aiwan-e-Sadr\' reportedly changed the protocol and made him sit next to the PoK president Masood Khan in the front row.</p><p>Sidhu, sharing the space with the PoK chief, sparked a furore and evoked strong reactions back home in India. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) termed Sidhu\'s Pakistan visit as a crime.</p><p>BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said \"Navjot Singh Sidhu is not just an individual but also a member of a political party and a cabinet minister in the Punjab government. The Congress needs to answer some serious questions in this regard. Navjot must have known that this man is the so-called President of PoK. He should have objected to sitting next to him.\"</p><p>The BJP also asked whether Congress party president Rahul Gandhi endorses Sidhu\'s visit to Islamabad.</p><p>Protests and agitations against Siddhu were also reported from various parts of India.</p><p>In Punjab\'s Ludhiana, protestors said, \"How could he attend Imran Khan\'s oath-taking ceremony and hug Pakistan\'s Army Chief being Punjab\'s cabinet minister when India is mourning the death of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.\"</p><p>New Delhi does not recognise the government in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and it regards the entire Jammu and Kashmir state as an integral part of India, a part of which is occupied by Pakistan.</p><p>It\'s not just the controversial sitting arrangement, which raised eyebrows. Siddhu also drew flak for hugging Pakistan\'s Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa prior to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan\'s oath-taking ceremony.</p><p>However, undeterred by the opposition attack, Siddhu defended his visit and the hug to Pakistan Army Chief.</p><p>He said, \"It is our duty that we go back and ask our government to take a step ahead and I hope if we take one step forward, people here will take two steps forward. General Bajwa Sahab hugged me and said, \"We want peace\". So, let\'s swim in a blue ocean and shun Red Ocean. It\'s my dream.\"(ANI)</p><br/><center><em><p>This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI</p></em></center>
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