Kartarpur: A view of the shrine of Sikh leader Guru Nanak Dev in Kartarpur, Pakistan.
Highlights
- The corridor links Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pak to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur in India
- Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib is the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev
- Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib is one of the holiest of shrines for followers of Sikhism
The Kartarpur Corridor will reopen for pilgrimage from tomorrow, Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted on Tuesday. Pilgrimage to the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara was suspended in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
"In a major decision, that will benefit large numbers of Sikh pilgrims, the Modi government has decided to re-open the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor from tomorrow, Nov 17. This decision reflects the immense reverence of Modi govt towards Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and our Sikh community," Shah tweeted.
Earlier on Sunday, a delegation of BJP leaders from Punjab met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi and requested him to reopen the Kartarpur Corridor before Gurpurab.
Meanwhile, former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh thanked PM and home Minister. "My profound gratitude to PM @narendramodi and HM @AmitShah for the timely opening of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor. It will provide a chance to thousands of devotees to pay obeisance at the holy shrine on the occasion of Guru Purab of Guru Nanak Dev Ji," Singh tweeted.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has welcomed the Centre's decision. He announced that the entire state Cabinet will be part of the first jatha for paying obeisance.
"It's a happy moment that Kartarpur Corridor is reopening & prayers of Sikh community being answered. I had met PM-HM as CM & had requested them. Now they've announced, I thank them," he said.
Channi on Tuesday also announced that the entire Punjab Cabinet will pay obeisance at Sri Kartarpur Sahib on November 18 as a part of the first delegation after reopening of Kartarpur corridor.
The Kartarpur corridor provides a visa-free border crossing for pilgrims from India visiting the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara in Pakistan. It links the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, to the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district in India.
Gurpurab, which marks the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, will be celebrated on November 19 this year.
Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib is one of the holiest of shrines for followers of Sikhism. Its reopening is an emotive issue for poll-bound Punjab. Therefore all parties, including the Congress and the Akali Dal, have been demanding that it be reopened.
