‘I love Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa,’ says Sikh leader Gopal Chawla

NAROWAL: Expressing his love for Pakistan and the country’s Chief of Army Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa, prominent leader of the Pakistan’s Sikh Community, Gopal Chawla, said he didn’t do anything wrong by shaking hands with the army chief, ARY News reported on Wednesday.

“If I’ve hugged or shaken hands with the army chief, it shouldn’t be a concern to anyone, he is from my country, I love Pakistan and I love Qamar Javed Bajwa…I am ready to even sacrifice my life for Qamar Javed Bajwa” said Chawla, General Secretary of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee while talking to ARY News.

He said Pakistan always takes an initiative for peace, “but the Indian media is so despicable that it deliberately attempts to spoil gatherings that are meant to bring people closer,” he lamented.

Pakistan Sikh Community chairman Gopal Chawla was taken to task by the Indian media when he met the army chief at the public ceremony of Kartarpur Border Corridor on Wednesday. The India media hurled several accusations on the Sikh leader.

In a befitting response to false reporting from Indian TV channels, the military’s public affairs wing, ISPR, clarified that   Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa met all guests at the groundbreaking ceremony of Kartarpur corridor, while hitting out at what it said Indian media’s myopic view of the event.

“Indian media taking a myopic view is selectively showing Mr. Gopal Chawla meeting COAS. Army Chief met all guests at the venue irrespective of identity. A peace initiative should not be subjected to propaganda,” the military’s media wing said.

In another tweet, the ISPR said COAS attended the Kartarpura Corridor ceremony and quoted him as saying: “It’s a step towards peace which our region needs. Barbed wire at borders is measure by a sovereign state to check / deny illegal crossings. Corridors & Gates are for legal peaceful visitors. So is the case for all our neighbors.”