Kartarpur corridor will act as bridge for people of India, Pakistan: PM Modi

Ravi S Singh
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 23

On the occasion of the start of the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tributes to the Sikh guru and said that the proposed Kartarpur corridor would act as bridge for people-to-people contact in India and Pakistan.

Addressing a religious function at the residence of Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Modi said, “Kartarpur corridor will help people to establish a bond.”

He added that the tragic incidents of 1947 should be left behind and new chapter of relationship between people should commence.

He did not elaborate on it much except to say that even the Berlin Wall which acted as barrier between people of East and West Germany was ultimately pulled down.

This was unthinkable at one point of time, he said.

“We do not wish bad for anyone…we believe in Vasudhev Kutumbkam,” he added.

Modi offered ‘ardaas’ (prayers) to Guru Grant Sahib — the holy book of the Sikhs — and sat among the ‘sangat’ to listen to gurbani during his half an hour stay.

He was felicitated with a ‘saropa’ and turban by Shiromani Aklai Dal president and former Depty Chief Minister of Punjab Sukhbir Singh Badal and president of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Manjit Singh GK.

Modi attributed all the good work of his government to the blessing of the gurus and saints and great spiritual leaders. “The sacrifices of the gurus have built and protected the country,” Modi said.

Referring to the destruction of a place in Latur in Kutch area of Gujarat due to earthquake, he said the sacred place where Guru Nanak’s “padukaon” kept had got damaged. But he said he had the blessing to reconstruct the place and it has become a site of “World Heritage”.

He also said that when the government launched Udaan scheme to make air-travel affordable for common man, he was inspired to choose Nanded (associated with Guru Gobind Singh) as one of the two places to launch it.

He said Guru Nanak’s message embodies unity and integrity of the country.

The tradition and messages of the gurus will always keep the country united and strong, he said.

He said in an age when travel was difficult, the guru travelled across the country and embodied entire country in himself.

He said that ‘langar’ (community kitchen) is not simply partaking of food, but a rich tradition with a message of equality and brotherhood.

He hoped that the birth anniversary of the guru will help to foster harmony in society.