Pak Sikh body congrats Sidhu for being Punjab Cong chief, hopes it will help re-open Kartarpur corridor

GS Paul
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, July 25

Navjot Singh Sidhu’s elevation to the post of Punjab Congress chief has gained the attention on the other side of the India-Pakistan border too.

While the SGPC remained oblivious of Sidhu’s visit to the Golden Temple, rather criticising it for making ‘show of strength’ in the Shrine complex, the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) has invited Sidhu to Pakistan for blessings.

While congratulating Sidhu for his new appointment which, the PSGPC foresee as an opportunity to help in reopening the Gurdwara Kartarpur corridor, PSGPC general secretary Amir Singh said that ‘lehnda Punjab’ (West Punjab, now in Pakistan) too was thrilled for Sidhu’s new appointment.

He said that Sidhu has got the blessings from Golden Temple after becoming Punjab Congress chief and wants him to come to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib too, to seek blessings.

Acknowledging that Sidhu was instrumental in the execution of opening of Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in 2019, he said, “How could one forget the golden day of November 2 in 2019 when this corridor was opened? The credit goes to Sidhu whose earnest efforts made it possible. But, it was closed due to Covid-19 crisis from the Indian side preventing the Sikh sangat from India to pay obeisance at the holiest shrine.

“We appeal to Sidhu that with the same zeal he should take up the matter of reopening the corridor from Indian side, as a priority. We hope that Sidhu would visit us through the Kartarpur corridor with Indian delegation soon”, he said.

As a precautionary measure against the spread of Covid-19, the pilgrimage to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur, in Narowal district of Pakistan was closed from both sides on March 16, 2020.

Though Pakistan had reopened the shrine since October 2, 2020, the Indian government had continuously suspended the pilgrimage registration to Kartarpur Gurdwara.

In the past, SGPC as well as Akal Takht had been repeatedly demanding from the Centre to open the Kartarpur pilgrimage on the lines of the opening of the other religious shires across the nation.

Claiming that the Covid-19 situation was under control in Pakistan, the PSGPC has extended an invitation to the SGPC, Akal Takht and Indian Sikh devotees to participate in the Jyoti Jot Purab which has been scheduled to be commemorated at Gurdwara Kartarpur Shaib on September 22.

The PSGPC has already held preparatory meetings with the ETPB to review the progress of arrangements for the occasion.

PSGPC president Satwant Singh said the Pakistan Sikhs were eagerly awaiting to welcome their Indian and Diaspora Sikh sangat for the occasion.

“We will welcome them at ‘zero line’ to make a fresh beginning through this ‘corridor of peace’, as described by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres”, he said.

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