14 Hindus denied entry to Pakistan Sikh jatha, SGPC says no bar on 'non Sikhs'

Pakistan’s immigration officials at the Attari‑Wagah border stopped 14 Hindu pilgrims on Tuesday, telling them, “You are Hindu, you cannot be part of a Sikh jatha,” and sent them back to India.

The incident occurred as a 1,900‑member Sikh jatha crossed into Pakistan to celebrate the 556th Parkash Purb of Guru Nanak Dev.

Amar Chand, a jatha member, said he and his six family members were sent back after crossing over to Pakistan from the Attari-Wagah Joint check post, over 35 km from Amritsar, by Pakistan officials, telling them being hindu, they cannot be a part of the Sikh jatha.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) responded swiftly. Palwinder Singh, head of the SGPC’s Pilgrimage branch, clarified that non‑Sikhs are allowed to join a Sikh jatha as long as they profess faith in Guru Nanak and his teachings. “There is no restriction on non‑Sikhs to be part of a Sikh jatha,” he said, noting that this year the number of Hindus in the jatha was unusually high, making their presence more visible than in previous years.

Sudeep Singh, spokesperson for the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), called the Pakistan move a “deliberate attempt to drive a wedge between the two communities.” He added that the DSGMC’s quota of 170 pilgrims had been dispatched and that none of the 14 turned‑back pilgrims were part of the DSGMC‑approved jatha. The group comprised eight members from Delhi and six from Lucknow. He said Takht Harmandar Ji Patna Sahib did not send any application this time. From Uttar Pradesh, UP Pratinidhi Board, also referred to as Lucknow Pratinidhi Board, also sends members to Jatha.