MODI OPENS KARTARPUR CORRIDOR, THANKS PAK PM
“I THANK PAKISTAN PRIME MINISTER IMRAN KHAN. HE UNDERSTOOD INDIA’S FEELINGS ON THE KARTARPUR CORRIDOR ISSUE, GAVE RESPECT (TO IT) AND, WORKED KEEPING IN VIEW THOSE FEELINGS”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday thanked his Pakistan counterpart Imran Khan for “understanding and respecting India’s sentiments” on the issue, as he inaugurated the Kartarpur Sahib corridor. The corridor links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, to the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur.
IMRAN KHAN,
In a rare and landmark initiative, the Kartarpur Corridor facilitating Indian pilgrims to visit one of Sikhism’s holiest shrines in the Pakistani town of Narowal was thrown open amid fanfare and presence of several thousands Sikhs on Saturday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan for appreciating India’s sentiment after inaugurating the 4-km-long corridor, which links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, to the Dera Baba Nanak shrine here.
The inauguration of the corridor comes in the midst of frayed ties between India and Pakistan following New Delhi’s decision in August to withdraw Jammu & Kashmir’s special status and bifurcate the state into two Union Territories.
Donning a saffron turban, Modi said he felt blessed to be on the holy land here to dedicate the Kartarpur Corridor to the country.
The opening of the corridor and the integrated check post would bring “double happiness” to the people, he said. “I feel blessed that I am dedicating the Kartarpur corridor to the country. At the moment, I am getting the same feeling which you get at the time of doing Kar Sewa (religious service).”
This corridor and Integrated Check Post will serve thousands of devotees each day, and take them to Gurudwara Darbar Sahib, he said. The prime minister also congratulated the countrymen and Sikhs across the world.
On the inaugural day, 562 pilgrims crossed over to Pakistan to offer prayers, officials said on Saturday. According to the agreement between India and Pakistan, all the pilgrims have returned to India after visiting the gurdwara.
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh said the opening of the corridor will “enormously improve” relations between India and Pakistan. Singh, along with his wife Gursharan Kaur, went to Kartarpur as part of the first batch of pilgrims, which also included Akal Takht Jathedar Harpreet Singh, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, Sukhbir Singh Badal, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, cricketer-turnedpolitician Navjot Singh Sidhu and BJP MP Sunny Deol.
According to the agreement between Pakistan and India, 5,000 pilgrims from India can visit the shrine daily and the number can be
“I AM HAPPY WE COULD DO THIS FOR YOU... I HAD NO IDEA OF THE IMPORTANCE THIS PLACE HOLDS; I FOUND OUT A YEAR AGO”
increased in future.
The requirement of passport and the $20 service fee had been waived for Saturday and for November 12 by Pakistan.
Separate events were organised on both the sides of the border ahead of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary on November 12.
During his brief address, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan raked up the Kashmir issue and said, “The resolution of the Kashmir issue will lead to greater prosperity and mutual development of India and Pakistan.”
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, “If the Berlin Wall can be demolished, if the Kartarpur Corridor can be opened, then the temporary boundary of the Line of Control can also be ended.”
Pakistan Prime Minister