launching a scathing attack on Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on the issue of opening up of Kartarpur Sahib corridor by Pakistan Government, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday said that his action has instead resulted in blocking of the proposal which was being taken up by the SAD leadership led by Sukhbir Badal.
“The Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee (SGPC), the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and the SAD were already taking up the issue with the Pakistan High Commission directly as well as with the Pakistan Government through Indian Government since long time,” pointed SAD national spokesman Manjinder Singh Sirsa.
Taking up this ongoing process forward on December 20, 2017, SAD president Sukhbir Badal had met Pakistan High Commissioner in India Sohail Mehmood in New Delhi and had taken up the proposal to open by Kartarpur Sahib corridor during the coming 550th birth anniversary of first Sikh master Guru Nanak Dev.
He said that at that time, the Pakistan High Commissioner had given positive response to the proposal and SAD was hopeful that sangat will be able to get chance of darshan of Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara once the Pak government agrees.
“It is very surprising to note that now when a spokesman of the Pakistan Government has categorically stated that there is no question of opening up of Kartarpur Sahib corridor in isolation of other issue, why Navjot Singh Sidhu has chosen to be on ‘silent mode’ and not react to itij” he said.
He said that the people were expecting that he will remind the Pakistan Government of the commitment which he had claimed that Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa had discussed with him of opening up of Kartarpur Sahib corridor. “But his silence is speaking everything,” he added.
Sirsa also urged the Pakistan Government that they should not mix up the SAD’s stance with that of Sidhu “who is known for his lies in the country”. He said that opening of Kartarpur Sahib corridor for 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev was very emotional issue for not only the Sikhs in India but for all the Punjabis settled world over.
“People are expecting a positive response from the Pakistan Government, and are very hopeful that it will move forward on the issue which is being taken up with it by the representative bodies of Sikhs including the SGPC and DSGPC.
lashing out at Sidhu for “misleading” the people on Kartarpur Sahib corridor issue, Sirsa said that it was most unfortunate that with a single motive to divert people’s attention from his ‘hug’ with the Pakistan army chief, Sidhu used the name of the first Sikh Guru.
“Though the Pakistan Government has trashed Sidhu’s claim on Kartarpur Sahib corridor, the SAD will continue to take up the issue as it still has time to work on it,” said Sirsa while asking Sidhu to apologize to the Punjabis settled world over for his misleading statement which he gave while sitting on Pakistani soil.