Amarinder protests Pakistanmove to restrict Kartarpur travel to only Sikhs
Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday protested against Pakistan’s proposal to allow only Sikh pilgrims to visit Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in the neighbouring country. Pointing out that Sikhism founder, Guru Nanak Dev, was a universal guru revered by followers of all religions, especially Hindus, the Chief Minister urged the Indian government to take up the issue with Islamabad when the latter sends its draft agreement for regulating entry into its territory through the Kartarpur Corridor. Amarinder Singh said while Islamabad was well within its rights to set terms and conditions relating to its territorial safety and security, it should take into consideration the fact that the first Sikh Guru’s ideology is not confined to Sikhs but is emulated by people of all faiths.
“The Sikh ethos prescribes non-discrimination, with even the concept of langar being caste-less service for all. Gurdwaras are open to all, without religious bias,” the Chief Minister said in a statement here.
“A large number of Hindus in India were ardent followers of Sri Guru Nanak Devji, and it was their cherished dream to visit the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara, which was closely associated with the first Sikh Guru,” he pointed out. “There was for years the tradition of Hindu families converting their eldest sons to Sikhism. The influence of Sikhism in India was so strong that to exclude members of other religions was not something that Pakistan government should even remotely consider.
“To keep such followers out of Kartarpur Sahib just because they were not Sikh was not logical,” he said, urging the Indian government to take up the matter with the Pakistan government on priority.