New Delhi: India on Thursday described as “highly condemnable” Pakistan’s decision to transfer the management of the Kartarpur Sahib gurudwara from a Sikh body to a separate trust, saying it runs against the religious sentiments of the Sikh community.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India received representations from the Sikh community expressing grave concern over the decision to transfer the management and maintenance of the gurudwara from the Pakistan Sikh Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee to the administrative control of the Evacuee Trust Property Board, a non-Sikh body.
In November last year, the two countries threw open a corridor linking Dera Baba Sahib in Gurdaspur in India with Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan, in a historic people-to-people initiative.
“We have seen reports about Pakistan transferring the management and maintenance of the Holy Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib away from the Pakistan Sikh Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee, a body run by the minority Sikh Community, to the administrative control of the Evacuee Trust Property Board, a non-Sikh body,” the MEA said.
“This unilateral decision by Pakistan is highly condemnable and runs against the spirit of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor as also the religious sentiments of the Sikh community at large,” it said.
The MEA said, the Sikh community, in its representations to India, expressed grave concern over the decision by Pakistan “targeting the rights” of the minority Sikh community in that country.
“Such actions only expose the reality of the Pakistani government and its leadership’s tall claims of preserving and protecting the rights and welfare of the religious minority communities,” the MEA said.
“Pakistan is called upon to reverse its arbitrary decision to deprive the Sikh minority community its right to manage affairs of the Holy Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib,” it said.
Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara is located in Pakistan’s Narowal district across the river Ravi, about four kilometres from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine.
It is the final resting place of Sikh faith’s founder Guru Nanak Dev, who had spent the last 18 years of his life in Kartarpur.
The Kartarpur corridor was thrown open in the midst of heightened tension between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue.
The relations between the two countries nosedived after India scrapped Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on August 5, 2019 and bifurcated it into two union territories.
The corridor was shut in March in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
Also read: India summons Pakistan High Commission official over abduction of Sikh girl
Pakistan decides to transfer management of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur to Evacuee Trust Property Board , a non-Sikh body.
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The news has come a huge shock on 5 November 2020 to followers of First Sikh Guru Nanak Dev Ji world over as also to all well-meaning citizens spread at every nook and corner of the world. It must be noted that Guru Nanak Dev belonged to all because his message was and is continuing to inspire all those who wish to know authoritatively , and make effort to reach or get connected to The Ultimate. The government of India has condemned the decision of Pakistan , asking it to reverse the same sooner. Global community must also be eager at the same time to put pressure on Pakistan to reverse the decision at the earliest.
In this context , it may be apt to refer readers to this Vedic astrology writer’s predictive article “ India in the year 2021 – planetary impacts interpreted : kushal kumar” , published at theindiapost.com on 7 September , 2020. Through the said article , this writer has covered last four months of the current year 2020 from September to December plus the coming year 2021 in complete. The text in the article which can be related to the decision of Pakistan referred to in the news on 5 November , 2020, reads as follows :-
“ ( 3 ). …………………………..The period between 10 October to 13 November in 2020 is also the one when some powerful or rich organizations or personalities associated therewith in one or more fields such as social , spiritual , political in the country can be in news or focus for worrisome concerns………………………….Last but not least about this period , beware of designs of hostile countries”.
The aforesaid worrisome concern was later elaborated by this writer through another article “ Climax of year 2020 can make appearance during 10 October to 13 November – worrisome concerns on territorial , economic and health fronts calling for more care and appropriate strategy” , published at nirpakhawaaz.in on 27 September 2020 ( reprinted at English.nirpakhawaaz.in on 4 November 2020 ). The text of the predictive alert in the article which can be related to decision of Pakistan referred to in the news on 5 November 2020 , reads as follows :-
“ ( 3 )………………..While the period from 10 October to 13 November would call for alertness , dates such as 17 , 18 , 24 to 27 in October and 5 , 6 , 13 to 14 in November can be closely relevant”.
The details here would suggest that the predictive alert was somewhere closer to the happening on the ground.
Links to reach the articles :-
( 1 ). https://www.theindiapost.com/articles/india-in-the-year-2021-planetary-impacts-interpreted-kushal-kumar/
( 2 ). http://english.nirpakhawaaz.in/2020/11/04/climax-of-year-2020-can-make-appearance-during-10-october-to-13-november-worrisome-concerns-on-territorial-economic-and-health-fronts-calling-for-more-care-and-appropriate-strategy/