Kartarpur Sahib Corridor opened from Wednesday before Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth anniversary, Gurupurab. This decision was taken by the Narendra Modi Government and it announced on Tuesday to open the corridor for Sikh pilgrims ahead of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth anniversary. The corridor had been closed since the last march because of the Covid-19 pandemic situation around the globe.
This decision has been gaining appreciation from leaders across different political corners. Punjab’s Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi expressed his views and termed the decision “laudatory” for the centre’s move to reopen the corridor.
Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGP), committee across the border also expressed their contentment that the reopening of the corridor will help the Sikh Pilgrims to visit the last adobe of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev Ji without any interruption.
Union Home Minister, Amit Shah in a tweet appreciated the decision made by PM and said “The nation is all set to celebrate the Prakash Utsav of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji on November 19 and I am sure that PM Narendra Modi government’s decision to reopen the Kartarpur Sahib corridor will further boost the joy and happiness across the country”. He also talked about Modi Government’s immense reverence for the Sikhs and the Sikh community.
History and Political Influence behind the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor:
Kartarpur Corridor is a 4.7 kilometre-long corridor that links the Gurudwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan to the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur District. Gurudwara Sahib in Pakistan is said to be the last resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev Ji which makes it a spiritual and important pilgrimage place for the community.
The major timelines leading up to the opening of the corridor and its political significance throughout history is highlighted below:
1522: Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib is believed to be the first Gurudwara established by the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It is also believed to be the place where he died and that is why it holds a huge position in the history of Sikhism.
1999-2000: This corridor was proposed by then Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee when he visited Pakistan during a peace treaty with Pakistan at that time. After that visit, Pakistan agreed to allow the pilgrims from India to visit the holy shrine by constructing a bridge from India’s side of the border. This visit doesn’t ask for any visa or passport from the pilgrims. It is visa-free travel from India to Pakistan.
2018: On August 15, Navjot Singh Sidhu became a part of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan’s swearing-in ceremony in Islamabad. After he came back from Pakistan he said that Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa informed him about Pakistan’s decision of opening the Dera Baba Nanak corridor on Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary and in November the same year Indian cabinet approved the Kartarpur Corridor. Vice President Venkiah Naidu laid the foundation stone at a village in Gurdaspur District. Two days later, Imran Khan laid the foundation stone of the 4 km. the corridor on Pakistan’s side and opened an immigration centre at the border.
2019: Throughout 2019, discussions were held between officials from both countries on India’s side of the Attari Wagah Border. Discussions were held about the technicalities and other coordinates.
The officials also discussed modalities for the Kartarpur corridor. Pakistan allocated a titanic amount of 100 crores in the 2019-20 budgets for the corridor. Many rounds of meetings were held between both the countries and throughout the year at zero point. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the inauguration of the Kartarpur Corridor on November 09 and later signed the agreement to operationalize the Kartarpur Corridor.
On November 01, Imran Khan announced that no passport will be required to visit Kartarpur Corridor for the Sikh pilgrims. There was still much confusion about the passport and India asked Pakistan to clarify the confusion over the issue. Later, Mahmood Qureshi, Pakistan Foreign Minister ended the confusion and said that they will not charge $20 from Indian pilgrims from November 09 to 12.
On November 09th Narendra Modi inaugurated the portion of the corridor on India’s side and Pakistan did on their side. This was done three days ahead of the 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
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