As the 551st birth anniversary of the founder of the Sikh faith -Guru Nanak, draws near, there is increasing momentum on the Indian side of the Kartarpur Corridor for its reopening as it stays shut due to COVID19 reasons since March this year. In another move to focus attention on the issue, Dal Khalsa has written to India’s Prime Minister for intervention and early reopening of the corridor to enable pilgrims to wholeheartedly participate in the ensuing religious celebrations.

FOLLOWING UP ON A RECENT RESOLUTION OF A GATHERING BY SIKH SANGAT, on the Indian side of the Kartarpur Corridor, Dal Khalsa has sent an appeal to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking unfettered access across the Kartarpur Corridor at the earliest to coincide with the 551st birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Sahib.

Sikh bodies gathered on the occasion of the first anniversary of the Kartarpur Corridor on 9 November, near Gurdwara Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur, under the leadership of former Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti, former Jathedar Giani Kewal Singh had adopted a resolution which sought immediate reopening of the Kartarpur Corridor from the government of India on the lines done by the government of Pakistan in June this year.

The resolution adopted on the occasion and sent to the Prime Minister reads:

“Since the first lockdown on 25 March 2020, the parameters for the subsequent lockdown has been changed by the government of India depending upon its assessment of the COVID19 conditions. Since then there has been a marked change for the better in public life. Sikhs have started to throng to Gurdwaras for participation in daily activities and Gurpurabs. On its part, Pakistan has opened up its side of the corridor. Dal Khalsa believes that it is time for India to uplift the embargo imposed on 16 March when the Kartarpur Corridor was shut in view of the Coronavirus pandemic.”

“If there can be elections in Bihar, what is stopping the reopening of the Kartarpur Corridor?”

The letter by the Spokesperson of Dal Khalsa -Kanwar Pal Singh reasons that if there can be a full-fledged election with full peoples and leaders’ participation in the Indian state of Bihar, which is an indication of the socio-political life returning to normal, there is absolutely no cause for delaying the reopening of the pathway for pilgrims.

“India must honour the sentiments of the Sikhs otherwise it would another addition to the litany of injustices by the Indian government. It is time to reciprocate Pakistan’s gesture and reopen the corridor of peace and harmony.”