Covid vaccination must for Sikh pilgrims going to Pakistan on Baisakhi

AMRITSAR: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Bibi Jagir Kaur said on Thursday that officials from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) had told her that covid-19 vaccination will be mandatory for Sikh pilgrims wanting to go to Pakistan to celebrate Baisakhi. The day is also celebrated as the Khalsa Foundation Day in Sikhism.

The SGPC president added that the officers who met her assured her that the jatha will face no hassle, but the vaccination would be mandatory. “I do not know that what is the decision of the Union government on aspiring pilgrims who are below the age fixed for vaccination,” she added, while interacting with the media after chairing a meeting of the SGPC executive committee.

“In response to the letter that we had written to the Centre, the government has sought the opinion of the SGPC on issuing commemorative coins, postage stamps and letter envelopes on the 400th birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, which would be decided by a sub-committee we have formed.”

The SGPC executive has decided to set up tin sheds equipped with all facilities at farmers’ protest sites on borders of Delhi. “We will provide the facility of tin sheds with fans to agitating farmers. Our services of langars, medical aid and toilets, etc would continue as earlier,” she added. The meeting also resolved that the SGPC budget will be presented on March 30 and Bibi Jagir Kaur would conduct meetings with SGPC members to get their suggestions for the session.