Harsimrat: V-P Naidu to lead first jatha to Kartarpur

CHANDIGARH: Union food processing industries minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Wednesday said Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu will lead the first jatha (delegation) of pilgrims to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan through the Kartarpur corridor on November 9 to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Harsimrat said former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal will also be part of the delegation that will be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Harsimrat’s statement is contrary to Punjab government’s stance that the inaugural jatha will be led by Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh.

The Centre on Monday had shared with Pakistan a list of 575 pilgrims that includes the names of Amarinder, former PM Dr Manmohan Singh, Union minister Hardeep Puri, MPs and MLAs from Punjab besides Harsimrat.

“I don’t know about him (Punjab CM) leading the jatha because the matter is still to be considered in the high-powered committee of the Centre of

The Punjab CM can’t claim that he’s leading the jatha. It’s such an auspicious occasion that everyone should be part of it as a humble devotee and not as a leader. HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL, Union minister

which I am a part too. There will be clarity on the matter by Friday. But one thing I can say is that there will be only one jatha crossing over to Pakistan on November 9,” Harsimrat said.

CM’s media adviser Raveen Thukral had on Tuesday said that Amarinder will lead the delegation and the state government has sent the names of MPs, MLAs, ministers, leaders of political parties and prominent members of Sant Samaj.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa on Wednesday said he will not be part of the Sikh delegation to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan if it is led by Amarinder Singh, claiming the chief minister has not kept his promises to the people.

However, Bajwa said he was keen to be part of the proposed ‘jatha’ (delegation) if it is led by former prime minister and senior Congress leader Manmohan Singh.

The former premier is part of the first Sikh delegation to the historic Sikh shrine after the opening of the Kartarpur corridor. “I will not be a part of the delegation led by Amarinder Singh as he has not kept his promises of bringing the culprits of the Bargari sacrilege, those behind the drug mafia and other sacrilege issues to book. The Akali leaders are known to be involved in the drugs and sacrilege issues, but the chief minister has not taken any action against any of them,” Bajwa said. PTI