Sidelined at home, Takht jathedar gets Pak invite

PASSAGE OF PEACE Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh didn’t get Centre’s invite for Dera Baba Nanak event, likely to attend ceremony across the border; SGPC chief confirms participation

AMRITSAR : Akal Takht’s acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on Monday said that he may attend the groundbreaking ceremony of Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan on November 28 as he has received an invitation from the Pakistan government. However, the jathedar said he didn’t attend the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the corridor at Mann village in Gurdaspur district on Monday as there was no invitation.

Last week, India had decided to build the Kartarpur corridor up to the international border with Pakistan to let Sikh pilgrims visit the gurdwara on the banks of Ravi river in Pakistan. The two neighbouring countries on November 15 had made an official announcement to allow visa-free pilgrimage to the shrine.

“I have got an invitation from the President of Pakistan for the groundbreaking ceremony of Kartarpur corridor. Besides, I also received a call from Pakistan’s high commissioner in India. It is very possible that I will be attending the ceremony,” said Giani Harpreet Singh after chairing a meeting of Panj Singh Sahiban (five Sikh clergymen) at the secretariat of Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhism.

Akal Takht jathedar said, “By Almighty’s grace and due to prayers of millions of people, India and Pakistan agreed to open the Kartarpur corridor. No one should play politics over this and the project should be completed as early as possible.”

He also ordered Sikh organisations, sects and societies spread across the world to join hands to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Gobind Singh Longowal will also take part in the November 28 ceremony. Confirming this, SGPC spokesperson Daljit Singh Bedi said, “Longowal will depart for Pakistan on Wednesday.”

Pakistan government had also invited external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh and minister Navjot Singh Sidhu for the ceremony. Swaraj wouldn’t be able to attend the ceremony due to her ‘prior commitments’, including election campaigning in Telangana. Swaraj had written to Pakistan government that two Union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and Harsimrat Kaur Badal will represent the Indian government in the November 28 programme.

Meanwhile, Captain Amarinder Singh had rejected Pakistan’s invitation, citing killings of Indian soldiers by Pakistani army and terrorist attacks in his state. Sidhu, however, will be taking part in the ceremony.

SGPC ASKED TO PURSUE RAJOANA’S MERCY PLEA

Giani Harpreet Singh also asked SGPC to pursue the mercy plea of Balwant Singh Rajoana with President of India Ram Nath Kovind. The SGPC had filed a petition for the release of Rajoana — the death row convict in the Beant Singh assassination case — before the President in 2012.

He said, “It has been more than seven years that the mercy petition is pending. The SGPC should make approach the President for the early disposal of the petition in the light of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.”

Takht Patna Sahib jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh, Takht Kesgarh Sahib jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, Takht Hazoor Sahib Nanded’s granthi Jotinder Singh and Akal Takht head granthi Giani Malkit Singh were also present in the meeting held over issues concerning the community.

By Almighty’s grace, India and Pakistan agreed to Kartarpur corridor. No one should play politics and the project should be completed at the earliest. GIANI HARPREET SINGH, Akal Takht acting jathedar