Islamabad, Nov 17, (Asia Free Press): India has decided to re-open the Kartarpur corridor for Sikh pilgrims today [November 17], reported state-run news agency ANI.
India’s Home Minister Amit Shah, while taking to Twitter Tuesday, said, “In a major decision that will benefit large numbers of Sikh pilgrims, PM Narendra Modi government has decided to re-open the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor from tomorrow, November 17. This decision reflects the immense reverence of the Modi government towards Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and our Sikh Community.”
“The nation is all set to celebrate the Prakash Utsav of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and our Sikh community,” Shah added.
In the wake of Covid-19, both India and Pakistan temporarily stopped the pilgrimage and halted registration in March 2020.
The pilgrimage was re-opened by Islamabad later in October, but India refused to accept the gesture.
Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued around 3000 visas to Indian Sikh Yatrees to participate in the 552nd Birth Anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak.
Indian authorities last week permitted 1,500 pilgrims to travel to pay obeisance at religious shrines in Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah Integrated Check Post.
The re-opening of the Kartarpur corridor by India will assist thousands of devotees, primarily Sikhs, to visit the final resting place of Guru Nanak in Pakistan.
The visa-free corridor provides access to the Indian pilgrims to the Gurudwara Darbar Singh in Pakistan. It became operational in 2019 and was inaugurated by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.
