Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday sought personal intervention of the Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in seeking access from the Pakistan Government to enable devotees to visit the historic Gurudwara Sahib in Kartapur on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.
However, Capt Amarinder made no mention of the Pak Army chief’s assurance to Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu for the same in his letter. Sidhu, who visited the neighbouring country to attend the swearing-in ceremony of his “friend” Imran Khan as the Prime Minister, had a brief meeting with Pak Army Chief who, as per his claims, told him that efforts were on to open the Kartarpur corridor for 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Sikhs first guru.
Capt Amarinder, in a letter to the Union Minister, has urged her to take up the matter with her Pakistani counterpart for having the corridor from the international border to Kartarpur opened for the duration of the celebrations.
“This will allow the faithful to pay their respects at the Gurudwara Sahib in Kartarpur,” said Capt Amarinder, pointing out that Kartarpur is located across the river Ravi at a distance of around four kilometres from the international border near Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district.
The Chief Minister noted that the 550th birth anniversary of the first Guru, who breathed his last in Kartarpur, is being observed in November 2019. He pointed out that one of the historical demands of the Sikh community has been to have access to the revered Gurudwara Sahib in Kartarpur.
“The Government of Punjab has been requesting Government of India time and again for taking up the matter with the Government of Pakistan for a corridor from the International Border to Kartarpur,” he added.
Capt Amarinder further observed that in pursuance of the long-standing demand, the former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had made an announcement to this effect at Amritsar on September 1, 2004, on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of prakash utsav of Guru Granth Sahib.
He had reiterated the same during his subsequent visits to the State in 2005 and 2006. However, despite best efforts, this has not materialized, said the Chief Minister, urging Sushma to make personal efforts in the matter.