Punjab DGP expresses 'regret' if his Kartarpur remarks have hurt people

Tribune News Service 

Chandigarh, February 23

Facing criticism for his remarks on Kartarpur Corridor, Punjab DGP Dinkar Gupta on Sunday evening took to Twitter to state his faith in Sikh religion.

In his tweet, Gupta said he had worked tirelessly for peace and security in Punjab in his 32 years of service. He stressed he had started his tenure as Punjab DGP in February 2019 with Ardaas at Golden Temple which showed his immense faith in Sikhism.

“In case any remark made by me has inadvertently caused any hurt to the people of my state, I express my sincere regret as it was never my intention at all. I only want to ensure a safe and peaceful environment in Punjab necessary for every citizen to flourish and prosper,” Gupta said.

On Saturday, Dinkar Gupta has expressed shock and outrage over his remarks on the Kartarpur corridor at a media event being misunderstood or wilfully misconstrued. “I only red-flagged the obvious ‘potential’ for misuse by elements notorious for their hostility towards India and their effort to exploit every opportunity, even the most pious one, to disturb peace and communal harmony,” he explained. 

In a statement, the DGP said: “I rejoiced at the opening of Sri Kartarpur Sahib corridor, fulfilling the decades-old aspirations of millions of devotees like myself all over the world who profess their faith in Guru Nanak Dev ji and his divine teachings.”

On Saturday, SAD and AAP slammed Gupta for his purported statement on the corridor and sought clarification from Chief Minister Amarinder Singh within 24 hours.

Senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia warned, "If a clarification is not issued, the party will stall proceedings of the budget session of Vidhan Sabha on February 24."

Majithia said Gupta had told a national daily that "Kartarpur offers a potential that you send somebody in the morning as an ordinary chap and by evening he comes back as trained terrorist actually. You are there for six hours, you can be taken to a firing range, you can be taught to make an IED".

The DGP also reportedly said some elements based in the neighbouring country were "trying to woo the pilgrims and making overtures to them".

The Aam Aadmi Party too lashed out at the DGP, terming the statement condemnable and seeking the removal of the top cop.

On Sunday, the Youth Akali Dal staged protest at different places in Punjab against the remark. At one such protest in Ludhiana, it burnt the DGP's effigy and demanded his dismissal.

Ludhiana district president of the SAD youth wing Gurdeep Singh Gosha also asked the Congress party to clear its stand on the DGP's statement.

The Kartarpur corridor, which opened on November 9 last year, links the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan — the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev — with Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur of Indian Punjab. With PTI inputs

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