Navjot Singh Sidhu at Kartarpur Corridor: 'We should open borders for trade'

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Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday reached the integrated check post of the Kartarpur Corridor at Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdaspur to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur in Pakistan. On the reopening of Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, Navjot Singh Sidhu said "with the efforts of PM Narendra Modi and Pakistan PM Imran Khan, this has been made possible."

“In the name of Baba Guru Nanak, a new chapter of friendship between the two countries should begin," Sidhu told journalists upon his arrival at the Kartarpur Sahib. "After the World wars in which millions of people lost their lives, if Europe can open borders on one-visa, has one passport and one currency, why not in this region of ours where we have figures like Bhagat Singh and Maharaja Ranjeet Singh who are revered by everyone?” he asked.

Sidhu said he wants mutual love between India and Pakistan. "There is a need to open windows in the walls erected in 74 years (between India and Pakistan),” he said, stressing on opening of trade between the two countries. "There should be trade between two countries," the cricketer-turned-politician said.

Sidhu thanked Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan for taking a step to open the corridor.

“I am thankful to PM (Imran Khan) for taking the first step and on the other side (India) responded with two steps. I had already said that those favouring the 'laanga' (corridor) would have blessings and those opposing it had no value,” he said.

When Kartarpur Corridor Project Management Unit CEO Muhammad Latif welcomed the former Test cricketer at the zero point and extended best wishes to him and his delegation on behalf of the prime minister, Sidhu said: “Imran Khan is my elder brother. I am greatly honoured. He (Khan) gave us a lot of love.”

Sidhu's visit comes after a fresh tussle erupted in Punjab Congress following the exclusion of his name from Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi-led delegation comprising of state cabinet ministers that visited the Kartarpur Sahib on Thursday.

The Kartarpur Corridor, which links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district, reopened on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government decided to re-open the Kartarpur corridor from November 17. It was closed in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The visa-free 4.7-kilometre long Kartarpur corridor joins the Indian border to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan. It became operational in 2019.

Meanwhile, BJP's Amit Malviya attacked Rahul Gandhi over Navjot Singh Sidhu's Pak visit, and said: "Gandhis chose Pakistan loving Sidhu over veteran Amarinder Singh."

Earlier, Imran Khan government of Pakistan praised cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu for his role in the opening of the corridor to Sikh pilgrimage site Kartarpur Sahib between the two countries.

The relationship between Imran Khan and Sidhu came to the limelight in 2018 when the latter attended the oath-taking ceremony of Pakistan PM.

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