Religious body seeks visafree access to Kartarpur gurdwara
Wants passage from Dera Baba Nanak to zero line to be named after former legislator Kuldeep Singh Wadala, who fought for the cause
JALANDHAR: Members of Kartarpur (Ravi) Darshan Abhilakhi Sanstha on Saturday sought a no visa access to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib after the opening of the proposed Kartarpur corridor.
The members also demanded that the government should honour the contribution of Veteran Akali leader Kuldeep Singh Wadala and name the road from Dera Baba Nanak to zero line on his name.
Wadala, former MLA from Nakodar assembly constituency, who passed away on June 5, 2018, did not miss even a single
ardas on every new moon day at Dera Baba Nanak for opening of the Kartarpur corridor, the members said.
Kuldeep Singh Wadala was the founder president of this organisation and started performing ardas from Baisakhi in 2001 and the body has performed 214 prayers till now.
“This issue is attached with Sikh sentiments and it should not be politicised. Even my father Kuldeep Singh Wadala never made it a political issue. He worked with this organisation selflessly for past 18 years to get the Kartarpur corridor opened for Sikh pilgrims,” said Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Nakodar MLA Gurpartap Singh Wadala, while addressing the media.
Gurpartap said the corridor should be visa-free for pilgrims if they are just visiting the gurdwara to pay obeisance for few hours.
Answering a query on credit to Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu, he said the organisation had been working for around two decades and had met several delegates, including prime ministers of both sides on several occasions. “Everyone contributed their part in this. Even other Sikh organisations, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and SAD have contributed and it was a joint effort of Sikhs and credit should not be given to one person for this,” he said.
The members claimed that no political leader or party had extended their support to this religious organisation until it became an international issue and a vote bank concern for them a few years back.
Jasbir Singh, a member of the organisation said, “It is very sad that Akali Dal has not given due credit to their loyal worker Kuldeep Singh Wadala for his contribution in the construction of the Kartarpur Corridor.”
Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib has a great significance for the Sikh community as the first Sikh guru Guru Nanak Dev had spent last 18 years of his life there.