DENIAL OF PERMIT TO PUNJAB MINISTERS ‘UNFORTUNATE’: CM

DERABABANANAK(PUNJAB): Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday termed as “extremely unfortunate” the denial of permission to Punjab ministers, MPS and MLAS to visit Sri Nankana Sahib in Pakistan for the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nank even as he accused the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) of ‘politicising’ the event.

Talking to mediapersons while reviewing the arrangements for commemorative events, the chief minister said his government wanted to celebrate the occasion collectively but it was sheer pettiness on the part of the Akalis, particularly Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, to turn it into a political drama.

He said SAD scuttled all attempts of the state government to ensure joint celebrations.

Singh pointed out that his government had spent ~ 550 crore to ensure a befitting celebration of the historic event.

Just a day ago, Punjab minister Charanjit Singh Channi had said that a majority of names in the state government delegation proposed to visit Nankana Sahib in Pakistan were not approved by the Centre.

Reiterating his protest against Islamabad’s refusal to withdraw the US$ 20 fee on pilgrims visiting Kartarpur Gurdwara via the corridor, Singh said, “Politics should have been kept aside on this religious occasion.”

On Pakistan’s invitation to Navjot Singh Sidhu to attend the Kartarpur Corridor inauguration, the chief minister told media persons to ask his former cabinet colleague about it instead.