'Not justified': SGPC demands exemption for Sikh pilgrims from Rs 200 Pakistan entry fee
The pilgrims are also expected to pay Rs 200 for returning to India
After the Indian government decided to charge an entry fee of Rs 200 for going to Pakistan and another Rs 200 for coming back from passengers, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) demanded that the Sikh pilgrims should be exempted from the fee.
SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, reacting to the Indian government's decision, said the pilgrims heading to pay obeisance at historic Gurdwaras should be exempted from the decision. He said that visiting gurdwaras is the faith of every Sikh.
Keeping in mind the feelings of the Sangat, the SGPC sends groups of Sikh pilgrims to visit the gurdwaras located in Pakistan on the occasion of Gurpurab and historical days. It is not justified in any way to charge an entry fee from the pilgrims.
Dhami said that the Shiromani Committee has been demanding that the Pakistan government should remove the US dollar fee charged from the pilgrims visiting Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan.
Now, the new decision taken by the Indian government will affect the Sikh pilgrims. He appealed to the government to withdraw the decision.
