Exactly 19 months after the historic corridor linking Dera Baba Nanak in India’s Gurdaspur district to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Narowal, Pakistan, was closed in the wake of the Covid outbreak in March 2020, the Central Government on Monday announced its reopening for pilgrims on Wednesday.
Punjab’s politicians transcended political boundaries to welcome the announcement, which comes just two days ahead of the birth anniversary of the first Sikh Guru Nanak Dev that falls on November 19. Besides, Sikh leaders, activists also hailed the move.
Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the re-opening of the corridor ahead of gurpurab, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi announced that the entire State Cabinet would pay obeisance at Sri Kartarpur Sahib on November 18 as a part of the first delegation after reopening of the historic corridor.
“It’s a happy moment that the Kartarpur Corridor is reopening and the prayers of the Sikh community are being answered. I had met Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah as Chief Minister and had requested them. Now they’ve announced it. I thank them. The Punjab Cabinet will be part of the first jatha for paying obeisance on November 18,” said Channi.
Also hailing the Centre’s decision, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) — known as Sikhs’ mini-parliament, also announced that it would send a group to Darbar Sahib Gurdwara in Kartarpur.
The group which will pay obeisance at the gurdwara on November 19, will be led by the SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur, besides a ragi jatha (group of Gurbani singers) and other members of the gurdwara body. The SGPC has also appealed to the Sikh sangat to take part in the ‘jatha’ to celebrate Guru Nanak’s 552nd birth anniversary at Kartarpur Sahib.
Former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh also took to Twitter expressing his profound gratitude to Modi and Shah for the timely opening of the corridor. “It will provide a chance to thousands of devotees to pay obeisance at the holy shrine on the occasion of Gurupurab of Guru Nanak Dev Ji,” he tweeted.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal said that he and former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal had written letters to the Prime Minister calling for the same. Lauding the decision, he added that the “sentiment of an entire community” had now been fulfilled.
Describing it as a “welcome step”, Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu said: “The reopening of the Corridor of infinite possibilities…invaluable gift for Nanak naam levas…May the corridor of the Great Guru remain open eternally to shower blessings on one and all….Sarbat da bhala.”
At the same time, Sidhu urged the Centre to reopen Kartarpur Corridor, to create a new Darshan Asthan for khule darshan didar for all and to cancel the three farm laws on Shri Guru Nanak’s Gurpurab, as it’s a day for reflection, rediscovery and reiteration of the Guru’s message of peace, harmony and universal brotherhood.”
Earlier in the day, the Union Home Minister announced the decision on Twitter. “In a major decision, that will benefit large numbers of Sikh pilgrims, PM @Narendramodi govt has decided to re-open the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor from tomorrow, Nov 17,” Shah tweeted.
“This decision reflects the immense reverence of Modi govt towards Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and our Sikh community,” he added.
Shah added, “The nation is all set to celebrate the Prakash Utsav of Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji on the 19th of November and I am sure that PM @NarendraModi Govt’s decision to reopen the Kartarpur Sahib corridor will further boost the joy and happiness across the country.”
The decision comes two days after Punjab BJP leaders met the president Ram Nath Kovind, besides the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister, and BJP national president JP Nadda in New Delhi and submitted a memorandum requesting him to reopen the Kartarpur Corridor to Pakistan.
It has been learnt that Covid-19 restrictions may be put in place, including social distancing, double vaccination, RT-PCR tests within 72 hours, and the numbers may be restricted.
On March 16, 2020, both India and Pakistan temporarily suspended the day-long pilgrimage in wake of the pandemic and also suspended the registration for the Kartarpur Sahib pilgrimage. However, on October 2, 2020, the Pakistan Government announced to unilaterally open the Kartarpur Sahib pilgrimage but India did not reciprocate the gesture.
