House passes resolution on Kartarpur land swap

CHANDIGARH: Even as the Assembly unanimously passed a resolution seeking land swap with Pakistan to make Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib part of Indian territory, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh came under fire from the Opposition, which advised him not to see the corridor project through the “prism of terrorism”.

CM Capt Amarinder Singh addresses the House after moving a resolution on Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib on Friday. PTI

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 14

Even as the Assembly unanimously passed a resolution seeking land swap with Pakistan to make Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib part of Indian territory, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh came under fire from the Opposition, which advised him not to see the corridor project through the “prism of terrorism”. His Cabinet colleague, Navjot Singh Sidhu, got support for his initiative, cutting across party lines.

Punjab will take up the proposal with the Central Government, offering over 11,000 acres in exchange for the land on which Kartarpur Sahib is located on the banks of the Ravi.

Sounding a note of caution on Pakistan’s efforts to revive terrorism, the Chief Minister appreciated efforts by the Punjab Government and the Centre on the corridor. The CM did not mention Sidhu’s name, but Congress MLAs Raj Kumar Verka and Harminder Gill praised the ex-cricketer. At the same time, the duo endorsed the CM’s concerns on Pakistan’s intentions. Outside the House, Sidhu said the issue should not been seen in the light of politics and terrorism.

The CM said he was not against the corridor as his forefathers had undertaken kar sewa at the Kartarpur Gurdwara. “I am a Sikh, but the welfare of the state and the nation come first for me as a Chief Minister,” he said, appealing to all political parties to play a constructive role in maintaining peace and harmony in the state.

Rebel AAP MLA Kanwar Sandhu said, “During his previous term, the CM had visited Pakistan and organised several functions in Punjab as a peace initiative, even as the neighbouring country continued with terror acts. The Kartarpur corridor should be seen in a positive light.”

SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal urged the CM not to show negativity on the initiative. “The Government of India will ensure foolproof security so that no bad elements cross over,” he said while demanding a resolution on land swap with Pakistan. Minister Sukhjinder Randhawa talked about the efforts by late Akali leader Kuldip Singh Wadala in this direction.