After former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu arrived in Pakistan to witness the oath taking ceremony of Imran Khan as PM, members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a protest against the former cricketer.

Sidhu had reached Pakistan on Friday morning to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday. The former Indian cricketer kept reiterating that he came to spread the message of love and peace between the two countries.

His trip, however, did not receive a good response from Indians. His mission to spread peace ignited protests around India, with people burning effigies of the cricketer and chanted slogans against him.

“How could he attend Imran Khan's oath-taking ceremony and hug Pakistan’s Army Chief being a cabinet minister; especially when India is mourning the death of a former PM,” one of the protesters said.

While addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Navjot Singh Sidhu remarked that Pakistan’s new PM possesses the ability to change country’s future. “Imran Khan has emerged as a hope [for us all]”, he said.

Speaking about his experience, Sindhu shared that he is taking back 100 times more love than what he had brought. “The love I have gotten has opened up infinite possibilities which can actually unify us.”

He stressed that the purpose of his visit was not political rather spread the message of love. “I brought a message of love and friendship. This message of friendship is for everyone, not just cricketers.”