Delink 26/11 and Pak’s proposal on corridor, says VK Singh
of state for external affairs VK Singh has called for delinking the Mumbai terror attack and Pakistan’s Kartarpur corridor proposal even as he asserted that there has been no change in the government’s policy that “talks and terror cannot go together”.
Singh, who is currently on a three city US trip to inaugurate ‘Passport Seva’ projects in New York, Washington DC and Atlanta, was felicitated at a Baltimore Gurdwara in Maryland in recognition of some of the decisions being taken by the Indian government for the community.
Asked if India can believe what Pakistan has promised on building the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, the minister said on Saturday: “”Let’s not initially raise doubts (on Pakistan over the corridor). And if they don’t do, the whole world will see. Let’s delink 26/11 and Kartarpur Sahib”.
“Today people have to go to Dera Baba Nanak, stand on the border and look at Kartarpur Sahib. If the devotees can go up to Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara after the construction of the corridor, nothing is better than that. This is a religious issue. It has nothing to do with that (the Indian government’s policy that talks and terror cannot go together),” he said in response to a question.
AMERICAN SIKHS HAIL DECISION ON CORRIDOR
Sikhs in America have hailed the Indian government’s decision to build a corridor linking Gurdaspur with Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan, fulfilling a long-pending demand of the community.
“The Indian government’s decision to develop and open the Kartarpur corridor is historic,” Jasdip Singh, chairman of the Sikhs of America, said during his meeting with visiting Union minister VK Singh.
Welcoming the decision, Gurinder Singh Khalsa, a community leader, said this is just a beginning for greater good of the region and the humanity.
In a memorandum submitted to the minister, the Sikhs of America urged the PM to bring to justice the masterminds of the 1984 riots. The memorandum also urged the government to provide visa to Sikhs in the US who have received political asylum.