The Indian government on Tuesday announced reopening of the KartarpurCorridor on November 19 following the widespread demand from Sikhs as theyget ready to celebrate Baba Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary.
Sikh members of Indian Parliament from the BJP had requested Prime MinisterNarendra Modi to open the Kartarpur Corridor, according to the Indian media.
A delegation comprising the Punjab BJP led by president Ashwani Sharmacalled on Modi Sunday and made an appeal to reopen the Kartarpur Corridorby Gurpurab.
Citing the worsening COVID-19 situation, India had closed the visa-freecorridor on March 16, 2020 after imposing strict travel restrictions. Sikhlater asserted that the pandemic situation had eased considerably – enoughfor Sikh pilgrims to get free travel access to Kartarpur Sahib.
The Sikhs in India also gave a deadline of November 19 to the government toreopen the Kartarpur Corridor. They also formed a Sri Kartarpur SahibCorridor Sangarash Committee (SKSCSC), which had announced to take itsmovement for the cause to international platforms if the demand was not metby November 19.
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Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Chairperson Dr Amir said that he knowsunofficial arrangements are being made by India to reopen the KartarpurCorridor on November 19, but that Pakistan has not been officially informedas yet by the neighbouring country.
Addressing his weekly press briefing last week, Foreign Office SpokespersonAsim Iftikhar said Pakistan had opened the Kartarpur Corridor from its sideand India was also expected to allow the Sikh pilgrims desiring to join theupcoming birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak from November17-26.
