94 Sikh pilgrims from Haryana stopped at Pak border: Akali Dal seeks action against officials

After 94 Sikh pilgrims from Haryana were not allowed to visit Pakistan, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Haryana) has demanded a high-level inquiry, a public apology from the government and action against officials responsible for the lapse.

“Every year, Sikhs from across the country visit religious places in Pakistan on special occasions, but for the first time, pilgrims from Haryana were not allowed to cross over. There was a delay in issuing notifications, but the process was completed by the HSGMC and visas were issued to 94 pilgrims from the state. However, a verified list was not sent to the authorities concerned, due to which the pilgrims could not go to Pakistan,” said state party chief Harkesh Singh Mohri, who was among the pilgrims stopped at the border.

The party submitted memorandums in this regard in Ambala, Kurukshetra and Yamunanagar. Memorandums will also be submitted in other district headquarters.

Extending support to the HSGMC, Mohri said some people had been criticising the HSGMC on this issue, but the Haryana committee had completed its job in a time-bound manner.

“We suspect a conspiracy. Some dissenting members in the HSGMC are working for vested interests and spreading false information. They are misguiding the government,” he claimed.

He said the government must complete all formalities regarding upcoming pilgrimages on time. If the pilgrims were forced to return from the border again, they would be forced to launch an agitation, he said.

INLD spokesman Onkar Singh, who was present on the occasion, said, “The lapse on the part of government officials has led to this situation. They have hurt the sentiments of the community and appropriate action should be taken.”

Meanwhile, the HSGMC has formed a five-member committee to investigate and submit a report. It has also sent letters to CM Nayab Singh Saini and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in this regard.

HSGMC president Jagdish Singh Jhinda said, “The pilgrims from Haryana have faced humiliation. We have expressed our unhappiness and requested the government to ensure timely intimation of the process so that such an incident does not recur. We have also demanded a fixed pilgrim quota for Haryana.”