ABSTRACT

The Visa free Kartarpur border corridor was shut last year due to Covid-19 pandemic. Home minister Amit Shah said reopening of the Kartarpur corridor will benefit a large no. of people and the decision taken by Modi Government shows their immense support towards the Sikh Community and Shri Guru Nanak Ji.The memorandum was sent by BJP leaders ahead of the Punjab Assembly Elections. Also Covid guidelines would be followed for the Pilgrimage, including restricting no. and social distancing. Visitors will be required to show their vaccine certificates and an RT-PCR negative report as early as 72 hours before the pilgrimage.

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A pact between India and Pakistan allow Indian Pilgrims of all faiths to undertake round- the- year Visa- free travel through the passage. The decisions came in June, Pak denied permission for visits on the occasion of the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev and on the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh – though both occasions were covered under the bilateral protocol on visits to religious shrines.

The 4.7 Km Kartarpur corridor was not open last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic stated by Home Minister Amit Shah and the reopening will benefit a large no. of Sikh pilgrims. The center has decided to reopen kartarpur corridor, which connects Dera baba Nanak Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan.

The reopening comes ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections by sending a memorandum by BJP Leaders to PM Narendra Modi inorder to open Kartarpur Corridor. In a statement, The Home Ministry said: “Shri Kartarpur Sahib is a place of devotion for crores of Indians and the decision of the Modi Govt. to resume operations of the Shri kartarpur sahib corridor. It also reflects the sensitivity towards the sikh community.”

The Corridor links Gurudwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, believed to be the final resting place of Guru Nanak, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab’s Gurdaspur District.

The proposal for the special corridor was first laid back in 1999 by former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif. The inauguration of the Kartarpur Corridor took place on Nov. 9, 2019 to mark the 550^th Prakash Guruparab (birth anniversary)’’ of Guru Nanak.

Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi announced that the entire state cabinet will visit Kartarpur sahib on Nov 18; also the decision display the immense reverence of the Modi Government towards Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Sikh community. The nation is ready to celebrate the Prakash utsav of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji on Nov. 19. This decision by PM Narendra Modi Govt’s will boost up the Joy and happiness across the country.”

The Corridor has been acknowledged BJP as one of the many achievements of the Modi Government and recently featured in the party’s national executive committee meeting.

Also considering the significance of Guruparva and sentiments associated with it, it has been decided that a ‘jatta’ around 1,500 pilgrims will visit Pakistan from Nov 17-26 via the Attari – Wagah integrated check post, “external affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi Said…….