Corridor: Passport can’t be done away with, says Sampla

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, January 16

A day after Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh sought passport-free access to Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan through the proposed corridor, Union Minister of State Vijay Sampla on Wednesday said both countries were yet to set norms, “but keeping in mind the hostile relations between the two, it will be wrong even to think about it (passport-free access)”.

“In my opinion, the passport should be mandatory, while visa can be given for a day or two. We have friendly relations with Nepal, but a passport is required to visit the country. On the other hand, we don’t have good relations with Pakistan and it is thus wrong to even to think about passport-free travel,” said Sampla.

About the CM’s suggestion of any other valid government document such as Aadhaar card, which might be used in place of passport for identification to facilitate pilgrims’ visit to the gurdwara, Sampla said: “Everyone has a passport these days. Those who don’t can get one in 24 hours. The process is easy and affordable now. This is a matter of national security.”

He added: “We hope that the corridor helps in making the relations friendly between the two countries.” Sampla alleged that the state government was rather slow in doing its share of work for the corridor.