Sarna brothers urge Pak to give on arrival visa to Sikhs
AMRITSAR: Urging the Pakistan government to facilitate the Indian devotees visiting the country on the occasion of 550th parkash parv (birth anniversary) of Guru Nanak , Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi), president, Parmjit Singh Sarna and his brother Harvinder Singh Sarna have requested for on arrival visa.
The brothers returned from Pakistan after a two-day visit on Saturday.
Citing that celebrations will last for several months, the duo has requested the Pakistan government to ensure participation of Indian devotees on the occasion. The Sarna brothers also requested the Pakistan government to issue visas to as many as 2,000 pilgrims.
Following their visit to Pakistan, the duo said that they have called on the office-bearers of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) and Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) regarding the Gurpurab celebrations.
“The process of issuing visas to Sikh pilgrims is long,” said Paramjit Sarna. “Special visas are issued only on four occasions — Guru Nanak Dev’s birth anniversary, Guru Arjan Dev’s martyrdom, Baisakhi and Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death anniversary. But the Gurpurab celebrations, 2019, will last for several months. So, the devotees should be issued visas on arrival,” he said.
He said, a grand nagar kirtan (religious procession) is also being carried from India to Pakistan to mark the occasion.“We also want permission for ‘palki sahib’ for the international nagar kirtan,” said the brothers.
Paramjit Sarna also suggested that an international committee should be constituted to plan the events for the celebrations.
He said that they will invite all the organisations including Shiromani Gurdwara Parbanchak Committee (SGPC) and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) for the procession.
Sarna who has also held charge of DSGMC president said that ‘kar sewa’ of the langar hall at Gurdwara Dehra Sahib, Lahore is nearing completion.
THE DUO HAS RETURNED FROM PAK AFTER A TWODAY VISIT; HAVE REQUESTED THE PAK GOVT TO ISSUE VISAS TO 2,000 PILGRIMS