At Dera Baba Nanak, Sidhu hopes corridor to open soon

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Dera Baba Nanak (Gurdaspur), August 25

Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday offered prayers at Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district.

A special “ardas” was conducted on the spot bordering Pakistan from where Gurdwara Karatarpur Sahib can be seen through specially placed binoculars.

Various Sikh bodies, including the SGPC, have been pushing for the construction of a dedicated fenced corridor, approximately 4.5 km long, between India and Pakistan to have access to the historical gurdwara built at Kartarpur in Pakistan. The place holds significance as it was believed that Guru Nanak Dev had spent 18 years of his later life here.

Sidhu viewed that he intended to be the voice of people, irrespective of religion, caste and creed, as per the teachings of Guru Nanak.

He said he had already written to the External Affairs Ministry to take up the matter with the Pakistan counterparts to create a “diplomatic” channel so that devotees could visit the historic gurdwara during the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

“Hope should never die its own death. With utmost humility, my purpose of conducting prayers here is to strengthen the intensity of the ray of hope. I am aware that the execution procedure will be taken up at the government level of both the sides, but it is my duty to convey my sentiments and the message of the other side and I did that. I have already written to the Union government to take that ‘one step’ as the other side is ready to take two steps ahead towards maintaining cordial relations between rival nations,” he said.