Sikh bodies to meet Imran

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 17

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) today announced that a delegation would visit Pakistan to meet Prime Minister Imran Khan over opening of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor.

SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal, DSGMC chief Manjit Singh GK and general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa and other officials today visited Dera Baba Nanak (Gurdaspur) and performed ‘ardas’ at the spot bordering Pakistan from where Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib can be seen through binoculars.

The SGPC and the DSGMC have planned year-long celebrations to mark Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary, starting on November 10-11 from Darbar Sahib, Dera Baba Nanak. Longowal said efforts were being made to ensure that identical ‘deepmala’ and other events could be held simultaneously on both sides of the border.

“If both governments reach an agreement, the SGPC would be fortunate to build this corridor, including a bridge on the Ravi,” he said.

Sirsa said it was decided that the two top bodies of the Sikhs would take up the matter jointly. “We have submitted a request to the Indian High Commission to approach its counterpart across the border to facilitate the delegation’s visit,” he added.

Meanwhile, AAP leader Jarnail Singh said in New Delhi that the Modi government's "insensitive" approach towards the corridor is hurting Sikh sentiments across the world. He said if there was no official proposal from Pakistan, the NDA government should take the initiative. “Opening the corridor is a long-pending demand of the Sikhs. After Pakistan's Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa's assurance, their Information Minister Fawad Ahmed Chaudhary has said their government is ready to provide 'visa-free direct access' to Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit Kartarpur Sahib," he added.

No proposal from Pak: VK Singh

New Delhi: Minister of State for External Affairs Gen VK Singh (retd) said here on Monday that no formal proposal had been received so far from Pakistan regarding opening of the corridor. "This issue has been going on for a very long time. There is nothing that has come about yet," said VK Singh, even as Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi. Sources said the corridor and Sidhu's recent interaction with Pakistan's Army chief during his visit to Islamabad were part of the discussions. TNS

Sidhu pulled up by Swaraj, says Harsimrat

New Delhi: Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday claimed that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had "reprimanded" Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu for "messing up" the issue of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor and accused him of "misusing" the political clearance granted to him to visit Pakistan recently for Imran Khan's swearing-in as Prime Minister. "External Affairs Minister (Swaraj) reprimands Navjot Sidhu for messing up Kartarpur Sahib corridor dialogue and misusing political clearance granted for a private visit by hugging the military chief responsible for killing our soldiers," Harsimrat said. pti