Modi, Prez accept Capt’s invitation to attend celebrations
HISTORIC EVENT Amarinder also seeks Modi’s personal intervention to facilitate political clearance for allowing all-party ‘jatha’ of pilgrims to visit Nankana Sahib
CHANDIGARH: Chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday said President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have accepted his invite to attend the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak in November. He, however, ruled out a visit to Pakistan for the corridor opening, making it clear that he would be only leading the first all-party ‘jatha’ to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur.
CHANDIGARH: Chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday said President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have accepted his invite to attend the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak in November.
The CM invited the President and the PM to attend the Parkash Purb celebrations, including the historic opening of the Kartarpur Corridor.
In separate meetings with the President and the PM in New Delhi, the CM urged them to join the mega events to mark the historic occasion. The CM later told the media that both accepted his invitation to be a part of the historic celebrations and modalities for their visit would be finalised after the Kartarpur corridor opening programme is frozen with Pakistan.
An official spokesperson said the detailed official programme of events has been shared with the President and the PM. The main function to commemorate the 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak will be held at Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district on November 12.
During his meeting with the PM, Amarinder also urged his personal intervention to facilitate political clearance for allowing a special all-party ‘jatha’ to visit Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of the first Guru, on the historic occasion.
He requested that a group of 21 persons may be allowed to visit Nankana Sahib to organise a “path” from October 30 to November 3, and lead a “nagar kirtan” to Sultanpur Lodhi via Amritsar (Wagah) later in the day. The “nagar kirtan” will arrive at Sultanpur Lodhi on November 4.
The CM has also written a demi-official letter to minister of external affairs S Jaishankar seeking formal clearance for the Nankana Sahib delegation visit and the “nagar kirtan” to be brought from Pakistan to Punjab, according to an official spokesperson.
Giving details of the key events planned by the state government — from November 5 to 15 — the CM said the flagging off ceremony will be preceded by a brief public meeting of devotees at Dera Baba Nanak. In line with past practice, the Punjab government proposes to organise an all-party meeting from 11am to 2pm on November 1 at Sultanpur Lodhi, he added.
NOT GOING TO PAK FOR CORRIDOR OPENING, WILL ONLY VISIT GURDWARA: CM
The CM on Thursday ruled out a visit to Pakistan for the Kartarpur corridor opening, making it clear that he would be only leading the first all-party ‘jatha’ (religious group) to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur to pay obeisance.
“There is no question of me going to Pakistan for Kartarpur corridor opening, and I feel Dr Manmohan Singh will not go as well,” he said, pointing out that there was a huge difference between visiting Pakistan and going to the gurdwara through the corridor.