Chandigarh – Panjab – India, 20 December 2020. Former union minister Harsimrat Badal today disclosed that she raised the issue of Kartarpur Sahib corridor at the meeting of the Committee of External Affairs yesterday.
Harsimrat is a member of this committee. After the meeting, she alleged that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) failed to give her a satisfactory response as to why the corridor was still closed.
Requesting the MEA to facilitate reopening of the Kartarpur corridor at the earliest, she said Sikhs across the world were pained at being unable to visit the last resting place of Sri Guru Nanak Sahib on His 551st Parkash Purb (birth anniversary) last month.
“Keeping the MEA’s response in view External Affairs ministers Dr S Jaishankar should intervene and take up the issue with the Lands Port Authority of India (LPAI) to get the Corridor reopened at the earliest”, she said.
She further said “I am of the firm view that if the entire country can open up and even assembly elections can take place, there is no reason why the Kartarpur Corridor cannot be reopened.
The Pakistan government has opened the Corridor for travel nearly two months back. India should follow suit after instituting needed health protocols keeping in view the fact that the Corridor was closed temporarily on 16 March on account of the COVID-19 pandemic”.
The Bathinda MP said it was months since pilgrimage sites across the world as well as the country, which had been partially or fully closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, had been reopened.
She said there was an overwhelming sentiment in the Sikh community that the Corridor be reopened so that devotees could pay obeisance at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan as well as visit the hallowed area where Guru Sahib made a living practicing agriculture for eighteen years.
“Sikhs were hopeful that the Corridor would be reopened before the 550th Parkash Purb of Guru Sahib on 30 November but their hopes were dashed.
The community is both surprised and hurt as to why the Union government is not opening a Corridor which is a symbol of universal peace and brotherhood and denied it a chance to commemorate the 551th anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Sahib at Kartarpur Sahib”, she added.
The corridor provides Guru Nanak Sahib’s followers living in Indian Union a visa-free access to this holy place land of which was tilled by Guru Sahib for His last 18 years.
A long pending demand of the Sikh community living in Indian Union, the corridor was opened on 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Sahib last year by Pakistan in agreement with India.
This is a trans-border link between the gurdwara and another historic Sikh town Dera Baba Nanak, which is situated along the border in the state of Punjab.
The Home Ministry of India had suspended the pilgrimage through the corridor from 16 March this year. On the other hand, all the worship places including Kartarpur Sahib had been closed to the public in Pakistan as well due to the outbreak.
After more than three months, the Pakistan government offered to reopen the corridor on 29 June 2020, the occasion of the death anniversary of Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh. On 01 October, Pakistan issued formal notification to reopen the corridor from its side.
However, Indian government is adamant to keep the pilgrimage suspended citing Covid-19 protocol, despite it allowed to reopen the worship places in the country several weeks ago.
Dera Baba Nanak – Panjab – India, 01 December 2020. On the Kartarpur Corridor, the Chief Minister of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh said it was time for the Indian government to open it since even Pakistan had done so. “I don’t know why the central government of India is not opening it,” he added.
Terming the farmers’ fight against the Farm Laws as just, the Chief Minister asked the Centre why it was being adamant on the issue and not listening to the farmers.
“It is the job of the Government to listen to its people. If farmers are joining the agitation from so many states, then they must be really upset,” said the Chief Minister while interacting informally with the media during his visit to these historic towns.
He asserted his government’s commitment to stand firmly with the farmers in their fight against the black laws.
On the Prime Minister’s adamant stand that the new laws were beneficial to the farmers, the Chief Minister said Narendra Modi had been maintaining this line since the beginning, which was the reason why Punjab came out with its own Bills.
He questioned the Governor’s decision to sit on those Bills instead of forwarding them to the President, which he is required to do, and pointed out that the Governor had done this even last year on the Bill related to the CM’s advisors.
Pointing out that the MSP and arhtiya system was the backbone of Punjab’s successful agricultural model, with the farmers and arhtiyas sharing a very close bond, the Chief Minister questioned the need to change the established system.
“Will the corporates who would take the place of the arhtiyas ever care to help farmers in times of crisis?” he asked.
Captain Amarinder observed that Guru Sahib had attached great significance to the small farmers, who constitute the bulk of Punjab’s farming community, with 75 percent of them holding less than 5 acres of land.
“It is these very farmers who would be ruined by the black agricultural laws enacted by the Union Government,” he said, adding that it was against these legislations that the farmers were currently protesting at Delhi borders and braving the harsh winter cold, the Covid threat and the brutality of the Haryana police.
Citing the emerging challenges of internal and external aggression, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh underlined the need for unity to counter the forces trying to divide the nation on communal lines.
He pointed out out that Punjabi soldiers like Gurtej Singh had made the supreme sacrifice and killed 12 Chinese soldiers in the recent clashes at the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Only a united India could fight the enemy, he added.
The great Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji had promoted the ideology of oneness of all humans, rising above petty caste and religious considerations, he pointed out, underscoring the relevance of this message in the current times.
The Chief Minister was visiting the two towns to mark the culmination of 550th birth anniversary celebrations and the 551st Prakash Gurpurb of the 1st Sikh Guru.
Greeting the Sangat across the globe, the Chief Minister stressed that the centuries-old teachings of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji were still relevant in contemporary times, and continue to inspire people with his philosophy of love, peace, compassionate and humanity.
He said that Sikhs had been living in every nook and corner of the world, thus disseminating the ideology and message of ‘Sarbat Da Bhala’ as envisioned by the Guru Ji.
Captain Amarinder said the pace of the ongoing development projects at Sultanpur Lodhi and Dera Baba Nanak would be accelerated, in addition to the launch of new projects to develop these places as planned townships.
He also asked MLA Navtej Singh Cheema to submit a proposal regarding new development projects, if needed, in the region.
Sultanpur Lodhi MLA Navtej Singh Cheema expressed gratitude to Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh for celebrating 550th Prakash Purb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji on such a large scale.
The MLA urged Captain Amarinder Singh to grant funds for strengthening of basic amenities and infrastructure development in colonies located adjoining the Rail Coach factory, where more than 25,000 people were residing.
Describing Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s life and teachings a lighting tower for all, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunil Jakhar said that we should emulate the teachings of Guru Ji in the true spirit for a prosperous and healthy society.
Earlier, the Chief Minister paid obeisance at Gurdwara Sri Ber Sahib in Sultanpur Lodhi, where SGPC Members Jathedar Sarwan Singh Kular and Bibi Gurpreet Kaur Ruhi presented the Siropa (a robe of honour) to the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister also honoured Head Budha Dal Baba Balbir Singh, Sant Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal, Former Jathedar Takht Patna Sahib Giani Iqbal Singh and other religious personalities.
Patiala Member of Parliament Preneet Kaur, Khadoor Sahib MP Jasbir Singh Gill, Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu, MLAs Rana Gurjit Singh, Navtej Singh Cheema and Sukhpal Singh Bhullar were also present along with the Captain Amarinder Singh at Gurdwara Sri Ber Sahib.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister also honoured Head Budha Dal Baba Balbir Singh, Sant Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal, Former Jathedar Takht Patna Sahib Giani Iqbal Singh and other religious personalities.
Prominent amongst others present on the occasion were former President PPCC HS Hanspal, MLAs Harminder Singh Gill, Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia, Sukhpal Singh Bhullar, Sukhwinder Singh Danny, BS Dhaliwal, former Cabinet Minister Joginder Singh Mann besides Divisional Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhary, Director Social Security Vipul Ujwal, Deputy Commissioner Kapurthala Deepti Uppal, SSP Kanwardeep Kaur and SSP hoshiarpur Navjot Singh Mahal.
Later, at Dera Baba Nanak, the Chief Minister, along with PPCC President Sunil Jakhar, MP Preneet Kaur, Cabinet Ministers Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Aruna Chaudhary, paid obeisance at Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib in Dera Baba Nanak on the occasion of 551st Prakash Purb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The Chief Minister presented Rumala Sahib and Chaur Sahib and offered ‘Deg’.
The Chief Minister was honoured with Siropa by Manager Sri Darbar Sahib Dera Baba Nanak Harvinder Singh, SGPC Executive Committee Member Amrik Singh Shahpur and SGPC Member Joginder Kaur.
Cabinet Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said that Guru Nanak Dev Ji gave primary importance to farming and himself took it up, so this sector has religious connection with the people of Punjab.
Crediting the Chief Minister for the opening of Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, the Minister further pointed out that this Corridor would be a symbol of peace and oneness of mankind.
The Chief Minister protected Punjab’s river waters and has now again risen to the occasion by fighting the Centre’s draconian farm laws, he said.
The Chief Minister also released a book titled ‘Suhave Thaan Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jo’s blessed trail’ detailing the projects in the ‘Charan Chho’ villages and towns. On the occasion, a message by the Pope from Vatican City was also read out by father Joseph Matthews from the Catholic Christians, Dhariwal.
The occasion saw Ardas being offered by Gyani Kulwinder Singh and Shabad Kirtan served by Ex Hazuri Ragi Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar Bhai Jaswant Singh.
Dera Baba Nanak – Panjab – India, 08 March 2020. On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, Patiala MP Preneet Kaur led a 125-member strong delegation of Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Ladies Organisation (FLO), Amritsar Chapter, to Kartarpur today.
The FLO is the women business wing of the FICCI.
She was welcomed at the Integrated Check Post by Amritsar MP Gurjit Aujla, Cabinet Ministers Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Charanjit Singh Channi, Gurdaspur District Planning Board Chairman Dr Satnam Singh Nijjar, Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ishfaq and Batala SSP Opinderjit Singh Ghuman.
Dera Baba Nanak – Panjab – India, 25 December 2019. Sundays are turning out to be the favourite days for pilgrims to cross over to Pakistan to pay obeisance at the Kartarpur shrine. The weekly holiday is actually turning out to be the saviour for the corridor, say officials working at the Integrated Check Post (ICP).
Barring 10 November (Sunday) when just 229 devotees crossed over, the rest of the six Sundays since the opening of the corridor, saw more than 1,300 pilgrims using the corridor. The maximum rush was witnessed on December 15 when the number of pilgrims touched 1,962.
However, on other days in the week, the figure is pegged between 450 and 600 devotees. Officials claim the mandatory condition of having passports, which is acting as a damper, may not be rolled back by the Pakistan government due to security concerns.
“The Centre has written to the Pakistan government to waive off this condition. However, till now no reply has been received from there. In the future, too, the response may not be favourable as Pakistan will never put aside the condition. Their officials view passports as verification documents. Aadhaar or Voter I-cards hold no value at all for them.
It is only through a passport that the antecedents of a person can be verified. Hence this condition will stay. Nepal allows Indians to cross over by showing driving licenses, Aadhar cards or voter I-cards, because it is a friendly country.
On the other hand, Pakistan is an enemy country. For this very purpose, their officials have to check the details of each and every person. And this they can do only through passports. There are chances of anti-social elements entering their country if the passport checking is not carried out. This pre-requisite will never be waived off,” said an immigration officer.
Pakistan is an enemy country ? When I travelled from Panjab to Panjab I did not feel that I was travelling in an enemy country. The ‘enemies’ were mostly friendly and hospitable !
Dera Baba Nanak – Panjab – India, 29 October 2019. The prestigious Kartarpur corridor project has suddenly acquired controversial contours with the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), responsible for constructing the Rs 190-crore Integrated Check Post (ICP), setting itself on a collision course with the Punjab Government by deciding to set up a separate stage for Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the inaugural ceremony.
The development came to light in a rather unexpected manner today when the LPAI started the work on the stage at the BSF’s post of Shikhaar Masiahan, nearly 10 km away from the corridor.
Heavy movement of trucks and other vehicles towards Shikhaar Masiahan, considered to be a sensitive area from the security point of view due to its proximity with the International Border (IB), were a tell-tale sign that something big was going on.
Sources confirmed that the LPAI was detaching itself from the festivities being organised by the state government “with the explicit permission of the BJP-led Central Government.”
The state government ‘pandal’ at the corridor site is almost 90 per cent complete and hence LPAI’s last-minute decision has come as a surprise to almost everybody. A senior BSF officer confirmed the development.
LPAI chairman Govind Mohan was camping at the corridor site.
There are two versions floating around. One was that the Union government does not want to repeat the fracas that occurred during the 26 November 2018, function held at Dera Baba Nanak when Vice-President Venkaihah Naidu and Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh jointly laid the corridor’s foundation stone.
At that time, Cabinet Minister and local MLA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa had organised a function on behalf of the government while the NHAI had made arrangements to hold a separate event, barely 50 yards away from Randhawa’s function. Later, better sense prevailed and the NHAI agreed to disband its stage and join the one set up by Randhawa.
Moreover, the proceedings had threatened to snowball into a major controversy when Randhawa lambasted Union Minister Harsimrat Badal publicly.
Both the LPAI and NHAI are controlled by the Union Ministry of Surface Transport. Secondly, a Cabinet minister disclosed that the BJP at the Centre was siding with its alliance partner SAD and hence the SGPC. It is a well-known fact that both the SGPC and the state government are at loggerheads over certain issues.
Will be inaugurated with makeshift arrangements as scheduled
Ravi Dhaliwal, Tribune News Service
Dera Baba Nanak – Panjab – India, 14 October 2019. Putting to rest speculation whether the Kartarpur corridor project will be completed before the October 31 deadline, the consensus that emerged at a high-level meeting held between various stakeholders at the zero-line today was that the venture might not see the light of day by then and that it will be an incomplete corridor that will be thrown open to the public with makeshift facilities.
The corridor comprises of two parts, the road and the ICP. The 4.6 km stretch of road being built by a Ludhiana-based firm contracted by the NHAI is almost complete. However, what is rankling officials is the construction of the multi-storyed ICP.
The Land Ports Authority of India, tasked with its construction, has contracted Mumbai-based Shapoorji Pallonji Group for the job.
Despite the fact that 2,000 labourers are working in three shifts, the ICP is just halfway mark. The project has been delayed after land acquisition took a long time. Later, the supply of sand and gravel was disrupted, bringing construction to a halt.
The state government was represented by Cabinet minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, CM’s Chief Principal Secretary and Special Principal Secretary, Suresh Kumar and Gurkeerat Kirpal Singh, Secretary (PWD) Hussan Lal and DGP Dinkar Gupta.
The Union Government was represented by Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, LPAI Chairman and Director Govind Mohan and Raman Sharma respectively, Member (planning and development) Akhil Saxena and vice president of Ceigall India Ltd Jeetendra Singh.
Sources said Govind Mohan and Bhalla, after visiting the site, admitted that going by the tardy pace of work the corridor could not meet its deadline.
Dera Baba Nanak – Panjab – India, 13 September 2019. To ensure that it can monitor preparations for the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of the first Sikh master, Guru Nank, the Punjab cabinet will hold its next meeting in Dera Baba Nanak on September 19.
This historic town in Gurdaspur district, along the India-Pakistan international border, only 7 km from Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur in Pakistan, was the last resting place of Guru Nanak. The celebrations that began a year ago are to culminate with a grand event in November at Sultanpur Lodhi.
“The chief minister has scheduled the next cabinet meeting at Dera Baba Nanak,” said Punjab co-operation and jails minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa during his visit to Government Senior Secondary School for Girls in the town on Friday.
He added that the 700-strength school will be converted into a smart, model school at a cost of Rs 40 lakh.
On the cabinet meeting, he added, “We will review the progress of projects such as the Kartarpur corridor and also of work done on sprucing up Dera Baba Nanak.”
He added, “Beautification projects are in full swing in the town; a park is being developed. A metallic statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh will also be erected in the main chowk of the town. Another Rs 7 crore have been sanctioned for the development of the main-street.”
He added the town was being developed as a city of fragrance by planting different kinds of flowers. “After completing his Udasis (religious journeys), Guru Nanak gave the message of doing kirat (work honestly to earn) and even cultivated land here. To commemorate this, we want a skill development centre to be established here.”
On the row between the state government and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) over joint celebrations of the anniversary, Randhawa said, “I will not indulge in religion-based politics. This politics is done by Badals through the SGPC.
I will continue to do sewa (service) assigned to me.”
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