On Tuesday, Pakistan’s top Sikh body welcomed the decision to reopen the Kartarpur Corridor by the Indian government. They said that it would help the Indian Sikhs to visit the final adobe of Sikh’s first Guru and Sikhism founder, Guru Nanak Dev, without any hindrance.
The reopening of the Kartarpur Corridor from Wednesday was announced by the Indian government on Tuesday. This corridor links the final residing place of Guru Nanak Dev, Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, to Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district, Punjab.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak, this pilgrimage was suspended from March 2020. However, the reopening of this pilgrimage was announced three days before Guru Nanak Dev’s birth anniversary, this Friday.
Sardar Ameer Singh, the chief of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, told the PTI that they welcome the decision of the Indian government. However, it should have been taken long ago.
He further added that this would let the Indian Sikhs to visit the shrine where Baba Nanak spent about the last 18 years of his life.
Ameer Singh said that visiting their holy places in Pakistan is the fundamental right of every Sikh.
This pilgrimage should display a message of love and harmony, which could reduce stress between the two countries and bring peace in the coming days, said the Chief, Ameer Singh.
Due to the Kashmiri issue, relations between India and Pakistan have been compromised several times in the past.
On Wednesday, Ameer Singh’s organization would host around 3,000 Sikhs regarding Guru Nanak Dev’s birth anniversary.
Mr Singh said that his organization could facilitate as many Sikhs at the corridor crossing over here from India. At the same time, he added that this pilgrimage would bring the two nations closer one day.
This decision of reopening the corridor by the Indian government was also welcomed by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB). This body in Pakistan looks after the holy places of minorities.
Amir Hashmi, the spokesperson of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), told PTI that they had been anticipating this decision for a long time; however, it’s never too late, and they welcome this decision wholeheartedly.