Centre’s decision to allow Pak pilgrimage welcomed

A day after the Centre granted permission for a Sikh Jatha to undertake a pilgrimage to Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib, Pakistan, to mark the Parkash Purab of Guru Nanak Dev, various Sikh organisations welcomed the decision.

Manjit Singh Bhoma, Chairman of the Dharam Prachar Committee (Punjab) of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), expressed gratitude to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He acknowledged the efforts of DSGMC president Harmeet Singh Kalka and general secretary Jagdeep Singh Kahlon, stating that their sincere engagement with the authorities led to the Centre's approval for a 3,000-member jatha to visit Nankana Sahib for the Gurpurab celebrations.

Following the Pahalgam attack, bilateral relations between India and Pakistan had deteriorated, resulting in the suspension of trade and the closure of road, rail and air links, including the Kartarpur Corridor. This caused a lot of disappointment among the Sikh community. In response, the DSGMC president wrote to the Prime Minister, conveying the sentiments of the Sikh community and urging the government to reconsider its decision.

Meanwhile, Punjab BJP spokesperson Sarchand Singh Khiala also welcomed the Centre’s move to permit Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Janam Asthan. He extended his gratitude to Guru Nanak Dev and expressed thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar.

He added that despite strained India-Pakistan relations, the government had honoured Sikh religious sentiments.