Sidhu again claims Pak approval to corridor, Centre has no info

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 7

Punjab Minister for Tourism and Cultural Affairs Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday again raked up the Kartarpur Sahib corridor issue claiming the Pakistan government had decided to allow direct access to Sikh pilgrims to the historic gurdwara just across the border.

Though there was no official confirmation from the Centre or the new Pakistan regime, Sidhu cited a BBC video clip and Pakistan media reports to corroborate his claim. The video shows Pakistan Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary purportedly saying: “Our government will soon open the border for Sikh pilgrims and allow them to visit Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara without having to obtain a visa. A system has been formed for the pilgrims entering Pakistan.”

The shrine in Pakistan is located about 4 km from the Dera Baba Nanak gurdwara in Gurdaspur.

The cricketer-turned-politician later took to Twitter to thank the Pakistan Prime Minister. “I thank my friend Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, for this noble goodwill gesture. He has not walked two steps but miles and opened the doors for infinite possibilities. Indebted, Forever (sic),” he tweeted.

Official sources, however, refuted the reports in a section of Pakistan media that a formal proposal had been sent to India for opening of the corridor. The sources said the Pakistan Minister may have been referring to the conversation between Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and Sidhu on the corridor issue during his recent visit to Islamabad.

Sidhu, meanwhile, refused to comment on the Pakistan Army chief’s remark  during his ‘Defence Day’ address where he hailed militancy in Kashmir.