NEW DELHI – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed that the Kartarpur corridor can act as a bridge to connect the people in India and Pakistan.
Addressing a gathering of Sikhs on the occasion of Gupurab (anniversary of a Guru’s birth ), Modi likened the initiative with the fall of Berlin wall.
‘Who thought the Berlin Wall would fall. May be, with the blessings of Guru Nanak Devji, Kartarpur corridor will not only be a corridor but can be a reason to bring people together,’ Modi added in his brief remarks on the development.
https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1066006874137526273
India on Thursday gave the go-ahead to Pakistan’s proposal to build Kartarpur corridor to facilitate Sikh pilgrims wishing to visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Narowal District.
The Gurdwara Kartarpur Darbar Sahib in Pakistan’s Narowal city holds religious significance for the Sikh community; It is the place where Baba Guru Nanak settled down after his travels as a missionary.
The decision to open the Kartarpur border was made after Imran Khan assumed office in August; Navjot Singh Sidhu was invited for the swearing-in ceremony of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief.
During the ceremony, Navjot Sidhu had called for reopening the corridor, however, he faced flack back home for cordially meeting Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Prime Minister Imran Khan would formally open the Kartarpur border on November 28th along with other government functionaries.
The Pakistani government had also invited India’s Minister for External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj to attend the ceremony on the Pakistani side.
However, Indian foreign minister thanked his counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi for inviting her and said other ministers will attend the ceremony on the behalf of India.
https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj/status/1066381518543568897
In a letter, Swaraj wrote, “Due to my prior commitments, including election campaign scheduled in the State of Telangana on that day, I would not be able to travel to Kartarpur Sahib”.
