PM Modi’s gift to the Sikh community

In a historic decision, the Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the construction and development of the Kartarpur corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to the international border. This will provide Indian pilgrims an easy access to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur on the banks of the Ravi River, in Pakistan, where Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji spent eighteen years of his life. It is the final resting place of Shri Guru Nanak.

A press release said, “The Kartarpur corridor will be implemented as an integrated development project with Government of India funding, to provide smooth and easy passage, with all the modern amenities. The government of India will put in place suitable facilities for smooth passage of pilgrims.” It further added, “The government of Pakistan will be urged to recognize the sentiments of the Sikh community and to develop a corridor with suitable facilities in their territory as well.”

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted, “The Kartarpur corridor will provide smooth and easy passage to pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib throughout the year.”

The Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara is a historic Sikh pilgrimage which is in Pakistan’s Punjab province. On Wednesday, over 3,000 Indian Sikh pilgrims reached Lahore and then left for Gurudwara Janamesthan in Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Shri Guru Nanak, for the birth anniversary festivities.

The Cabinet also passed a resolution to celebrate the 550th Birth Anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Devji, which falls in the year 2019, throughout the country and across the world, in a grand manner. Religious activities will be organized in the entire country. Doordarshan will also telecast special programmes on Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji and the Gurubani. The government will also request UNESCO to publish Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji’s writings in many other world languages.  National Book Trust will also publish Gurbani in different languages of India.

Rajnath Singh also announced the release of a commemorative coin and postage stamps to be released in honor of Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told reporters after the cabinet meeting, “Visa arrangements will be made. The corridor will be 3 to 4 kilometers.”

Reacting on the development, SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal said, “It’s a historic day for the entire Sikh community and we would like to thank PM Modi and his Cabinet. This has been a wish of each and every Sikh.”

There have been long-standing demands from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and many other political leaders of Punjab to construct a corridor for Indian pilgrims to cross over into Pakistan to visit the Kartarpur Sahib shrine and return to India on the same day. Now, the Modi government has fulfilled this demand.

In September, Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu sparked a controversy during his visit to Pakistan, there hugged the Pakistan Army Chief and also said that Pakistan was ready to open the Kartarpur corridor. Sidhu said, “I have gone on record saying that the Pakistan army chief has told me that the Kartarpur corridor will be opened this time as we want peace, right? Then Pakistan PM had a meeting with all the stake holders and said that we are ready to open the Kartarpur corridor.”

On the Centre’s decision to write to Pakistan government to build Kartarpur corridor, SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal said, “Who is Sidhu? Sidhu doesn’t have any role in it.”

According to a report by CNN News 18, Pakistan responded positively to the request made by India. It says the Pakistan already started the process of acquiring land for the project and would very soon issue an official announcement.

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for information and Broadcasting Fawad Hussain Chaudhry tweeted, “Indian Cabinet endorsement of Pakistan’s proposition on Kartarpur Border Opening is victory of peace lobby in both countries, its a step towards right direction and we hope such steps will encourage voice of reason and tranquility on both sides of the border.”