Allow visit sans passport: CM

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 14

Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has welcomed Pakistan’s decision to remove the requirement of separate permit system to allow pilgrims to travel through the historic Kartarpur corridor, as had been demanded by him, but requested waiver of passport also to facilitate devotees from the rural areas of the state.

In a statement, the CM hoped that the Union Government would press Pakistan to accept other key demands being raised by him over the past several months. These included further increase in the daily limit of pilgrims allowed passage by Islamabad to enable “khulle darshan” to mark the historic occasion of the 550th birth anniversary celebration of Guru Nanak Dev. This was vital to ensure smooth flow of pilgrims on important days during the celebrations in November, he said.

Pakistan has now agreed to 5,000 devotees a day as against its original proposal of 500, but Capt Amarinder said the number needed to be further raised, at least on special occasions in view of the huge demand for permissions expected to come from Sikhs and other devotees, who were likely to descend from around the world.

The CM, however, hailed Pakistan’s decision to allow OCI and PIO card holders, as urged by him, in an earlier to the Union Government on the issue. It may be recalled that in their MoU, Pakistan had suggested allowing only Indian pilgrims. He also thanked the Indian government for persuading Islamabad to accede to his request for passage of pilgrims on all seven days of the week.

The historic corridor would not serve its full potential unless Pakistan agreed to become more flexible with regard to various issues raised by him, he added.