Sarna fails in his bid to persuade Captain to visit Pakistan
CHANDIGARH: Former president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Paramjit Singh Sarna, who is also the Punjab chief minister’s religious adviser, said he unsuccessfully tried to persuade Captain Amarinder Singh to attend the groundbreaking of the Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan, scheduled for November 28.
Sarna, who visited the neighbouring country on November 22, a day before the 549th parkash purb Guru Nanak, is camping in Lahore to facilitate Pakistan officials in organising the foundation-laying ceremony of the corridor. “I am helping Pakistan officials and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee on the religious issue,” he said over phone from Pakistan.
On Sunday, Sarna made a lastditch effort to convince Amarinder to visit Pakistan. In a statement, Sarna asked the CM to accept the Pak invite as the Patiala royal family has a longstanding connect with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur. Amarinder’s grandfather donated ₹1.35 lakh to restore the historic shrine ravaged by Ravi floods in the 1920s.
Sarna wanted that if Amarinder can’t attend the groundbreaking ceremony across the border, his wife and former Union minister Preneet Kaur should represent him. But she is already on a foreign visit, said Sarna.
Considered close to the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sarna guides it on Sikh matters . He stirred a controversy during the Gurpurb celebrations in Pakistan on Friday demanding that Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib be declared sixth takht of Sikhs, which was rejected by Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh. Sarna, who is also president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi), has been visiting Pakistan along with Sikh pilgrims every year and demanding opening of the Kartarpur corridor at different levels.