Prime Minister Manmohan Singh flags off Punj Aab Express from
Amritsar for Nankana Sahib on Friday. Also seen in the picture are
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, Ms Gursharan Kaur and
Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal. — Tribune photo by
Manoj Mahajan
|
Amritsar, March 24
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today flagged off ‘Punj-Aab’ (symbolising five rivers of joint Punjab of pre Partition) bus service between Amritsar and Nankana Sahib, with a commitment to open more such links with neighbouring Pakistan.
He said, “Today is a day of hope for Punjab. Punjab has seen many years of great pain and sorrow. But the past is behind us. This golden land of ours is once again bounteous and filled with joy”.
“The regular bus service would link the ancient historic cities after 59 years of Partition”. Waiving a green flag, the Prime Minister launched the much-awaited inaugural service of the bus, carrying 40 passengers amidst youths performing bhangra and cheering by hundreds of people who had gathered here despite modest rain. The Prime Minister, who belongs to Amritsar, was greeted with Punjabi song “Mundia Ambarsaria ...” when he came to the site of flagging off of the historic bus.
“I am extremely happy to be here in Amritsar on this very important occasion of the launch of a regular bus service between Amritsar and Nankana Sahib. This is indeed a memorable day for Punjab. This is a historic day for the entire Sikh community, both in Punjab and elsewhere. This is a historic day for the Panth. In many ways, it is a historic day for both India and Pakistan,” said the Prime Minister, who was flanked by his wife Gursharan Kaur and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.
In his lengthy but emotional speech, the Prime Minister said that, “Ever since Independence, every devout Sikh prays to let us have free access to the gurdwaras left in Pakistan. And among the gurdwaras, Nankana Sahib is the holiest and most important”.
“This is an emotional day for every Sikh. And for me too”, he said.
The Prime Minister said, “Memories of Partition and my own travel from Pakistan to India come vividly to his mind. My heart swells with pride to launch this bus service connecting two of the holiest sites for the Sikh Panth. On this historic occasion I send my greetings to the people of Pakistan and to President Pervez Musharraf”.
When President Musharraf had come to visit us in New Delhi last year, I had said “The journey of peace must be based on a step-by-step approach, but the road must be travelled.” As an ancient saying goes, “a road is made by walking”.
“I am happy that we are moving forward and creating a road, one step after another. Even though many hurdles have come along the way. The bus service from Srinagar to Muzzafarabad was one step. The rail link from Munnabao to Khokrapar was another. The steps we have taken to promote trade and make travel and transport easier are all small but important steps forward. Today, we take another step. A historic step. Lahore and Amritsar should once again become throbbing international commercial centres serving the entire region. Instead of looking at each other as adversaries, we must have the courage to see each other as supporting the other for the realisation of better tomorrow
for all people of India and Pakistan. The 170-km road link, connecting the holy sites of the Sikh religion, has been a long-standing demand of people of both sides of Punjab, and the two countries had in January this year decided to begin the service.
Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Ijaz-ul-Haq, Punjab Tourism Minister Aslam Iqbal, Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) representatives, Punjab Government senior officials and the Lahore District Coordination Officer received the inaugural Bus at Wagha.
After a long stopover at Wagah, the bus proceeded to Nankana Sahib.
Their return journey to Amritsar is scheduled for March 25.
