Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday asked the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to pay out of their own coffers the USD-20 service fee being charged by Pakistan for visiting the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib as very few pilgrims have taken the Kartarpur corridor since its inauguration.
Pointing to the “lavish spends” of the SGPC on holding separate programmes to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev in Sultanpur Lodhi on Tuesday, Singh said it was evident that the religious body was flush with funds.
Singh said the low number of devotees crossing over to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib was not because of lack of interest but due to two conditions of passport and USD-20 fee put by the neighbouring nation.
In the first three days after a grand opening by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 9, just 897 devotees visited the gurdwara in Pakistan through the Kartarpur corridor, officials said.
Singh said that “cash-rich” SGPC, the apex religious body of Sikhs, should at least bear the service fee of the “yellow card” holders who are below the poverty line and could not afford to pay the amount.
Amid reports of confusion among pilgrims, the chief minister also urged the prime ministers of both India and Pakistan to waive the passport condition for travel through the Kartarpur corridor.
He said other forms of identity proofs like Aadhaar card and driving license should also be accepted.
“These should be acceptable since there was no requirement of visa to be stamped on the passport in any case,” said Singh, who was part of the first ‘jatha’ (delegation) that went to Kartarpur Sahib through the corridor on Saturday.
“Lakhs of pilgrims were waiting to visit the Kartarpur Gurdwara on this historic 550th ‘Prakash Purb’ of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji but were held back because of these problems,” he said in a statement here.
Taking a dig at the SGPC, Singh said that “instead of flaunting their money to appease their ego and make a political point through this religious occasion, they should spend the same on supporting the devotees.”
“Why can’t the SGPC and their political masters, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and particularly the Badal family shell out some money for the actual good of the community,” he said.
Notably, the Punjab government and the SGPC had been at loggerheads over the issue of joint celebrations of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.
The SGPC set up a separate stage at a stadium near Gurdwara Ber Sahib in Sultanpur Lodhi to hold the main event while the state government set up its own ‘pandal’ to hold the function.
Also read: Why Kartarpur corridor won’t go the same way as Vajpayee’s Delhi-Lahore bus diplomacy
Dear Gulab Singh.. or most likely Ghalib Shehzad. Apparently your govt or the propaganda machine ispr, are not aware of this madeup ‘no Passport’ requirement that you state. Just look at their official statements to know the facts on passport and fees as a requirement by Pak.
Lets take a minute to break down this great ‘humanitarian’ claim by Pakistan.
Since 1947 Indian Sikhs and others who revere Guru Nanakji, have been requesting this corridor of just 4km, but have had to be content with visual darshan from the Indian border. The Indian govt has put this request for a long time but has always been turned down by Pakistan.
So now shouldnt the talk be about the LACK of Pak humanity for 72 yrs??
Also BOTH sides have to agree, so how is this great initiative by Pak??..after 72 yrs access charging $20, which is an exorbitant amount for most people, reeks of a financial money grab ( leaving aside ulterior motives) more than a ‘humanitarian’ one!
Please mention
No fee has been charged by Pakistan for two days
This article does not mention
It is India which is demanding passports not Pakistan. Thousands flocked there with adhaar cards, Pakistan said these would be acceptable for the first few days, but INDIA refused the permission.
The Indian government Kartarpur website does not work online applications are a requirement from the government.
Indian government has a vetting process that is causing obstruction, it seems the government is not happy about Kartarpur and wishes to put a damper on the celebrations.
Pakistan wished the compulsory passport to be renegotiated but India has declined.
Passports are required for good reason.
Before a passport is issued the authorities ensure fit and proper people are only allowed to leave India.
We do not want for example Khalistan supporters to visit their counterparts in Pakistan. Measures are taken for the security of India and protection of its citizens.
Passport and permissions to leave ones own country!
As a Sikh I cannot help feeling caged, I am not allowed to leave
Am I the property of the Indian government who decides where I can go and where I can’t go.