Indian Sikhs ask PM to allow daily entry of 5,000 pilgrims

Letter to Imran Khan seeks permission for Karturpur corridor to remain open all seven days a week

LAHORE: The Delhi Gurdwara Management Company has written a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan requesting him to grant permission to 5,000 pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib each day via Kartarpur Corridor.

The Indian government has also forwarded a recommendation to Pakistan seeking consent for Hindus and Muslims devotees of the Sikh guru to come through the corridor along with the Sikhs.

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Delhi Gurdwara Management Company President Sardar Majinder Singh said PM Imran has been sent five requests. The premier is asked to increase the number of pilgrims from 700 to 5,000 on daily basis and to allow entry of 10,000 pilgrims on religious occasions such as Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birthday.

The letter seeks permission for the corridor to remain open all seven days a week. The premier has been requested to allow the entry from the corridor without passport, permit and without any fees.

The letter further requests that foreign Indian citizens should also be permitted to make an entry like other Indian citizens. Entry on foot has also been sought.

Singh also expressed gratitude to PM Imran for speeding up the construction of Kartarpur Corridor and the decision to open the passage before the 550th birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

The Delhi Gurdwara Management Company was formed according to Indian Act 1971. It is an autonomous body that looks after the Gurdwaras around Delhi and its vicinity.

Senior Indian journalist and analyst Ravinder Singh Robin said the Indian interior and foreign ministry officials apprised the Indian journalists on Saturday of the progress made on the corridor.

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The officials said Pakistan has been informed about India’s reservations about activities of Khalistan movement’s Gopal Singh Chawala but Islamabad has not replied.  The Indian government has advised that for entry via corridor, the pilgrims must have an Indian passport.

According to Indian officials, 45 per cent work on Kartarpur corridor has been completed and the first phase will be completed by the end of September.