Amarinder seeks passport waiver for Kartarpur pilgrims : The Tribune India

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Amarinder seeks passport waiver for Kartarpur pilgrims

CHANDIGARH/NEW DELHI: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has sought waiver of passport condition for pilgrims to cross the Kartarpur Corridor to enable "khulle darshan deedar" of Sri Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara on the 550th Birth Anniversary celebrations of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Sri Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara.

Amarinder seeks passport waiver for Kartarpur pilgrims

A view of gurdwara at Kartarpur in Pakistan. — File photo



Tribune News Service
Chandigarh/New Delhi, January 15

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has sought waiver of passport condition for pilgrims to cross the Kartarpur Corridor to enable "khulle darshan deedar" of Sri Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara on the 550th Birth Anniversary celebrations of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Sri Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara.

Captain Amarinder Singh has also asked the Modi Government to quickly finalise the alignment of the road access and attendant government infrastructure to be built around the corridor so that the process of acquisition may be commenced without any further delay to ensure early operatlionalisation of the historic corridor. 

He has written to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, requesting that the condition of mandatory passport for devotees seeking to cross the corridor be waived off to facilitate the pilgrimage to the historic Gurdwara located in Pakistani territory.

In his letter to Rajnath Singh, the Chief Minister has requested the Modi government to put in place a simple procedure which would facilitate "khulle darshan deedar" of Sri Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara, in keeping with the traditional Sikh Ardas (prayer).

A spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said Captain Amarinder has, in his letter, suggested to the Central Government that any other valid government document such as the Aadhaar card, may be used in place of Passport for identification to enable maximum pilgrims to visit the sacred Gurdwara Sahib.

The Government of India should also create adequate infrastructure at the border crossing to handle the large number of pilgrims who would want to use the corridor for darshan of Kartarpur Sahib. The land proposed to be acquired should factor in both present and future requirements, the Chief Minister added.  

Noting that the Ministry of Home Affairs must be currently engaged in working out the operational modalities of the Kartarpur Corridor to be opened as part of 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji in 2019, Captain Amarinder also suggested that the system to be applied should also provide for both, day-to-day prayers and "Akhand and Sehaj Paths" which the devotees may like to undertake at Sri Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara.

The Chief Minister has urged the Home Minister to favourably consider these requests in the interests of the pilgrims.

MHA holds meeting on Kartarpur corridor 

Meanwhile, a meeting to discuss modalities of the Kartarpur Corridor was held today in Delhi. According to sources, land acquisition, biometric data of pilgrims, online registration process were among some key issues discussed. 

Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba chaired a meeting with Chief Secretary of Punjab, DG Intelligence, DG BSF, Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria and NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) officials among others. 

The meeting lasted nearly an hour.

The Ministry of Home Affairs as the nodal ministry is working with all stakeholders concerned in the state of Punjab and the Centre. 

A meeting is likely to be proposed by India to discuss bilateral formalities later this month with Pakistani authorities.

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