Amritsar, June 1: Despite the recent controversies over two Indian pilgrims choosing to stay in Pakistan during the annual Sikh pilgrimage, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) is banking on the ‘capabilities’ of security and intelligence agencies to authenticate the credentials of the pilgrims heading for Guru Arjan Dev’s martyrdom day commemoration scheduled from June 9 to 18.
This will be followed by another ‘jatha’ leaving for Pakistan on June 21 to observe the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
On the other hand, the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC), which hosts the jathas with the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), has asked the SGPC to be extra cautious while recommending the names of the pilgrims.
PSGPC general secretary Gopal Singh Chawla said a programme for June 14, 15 and 16 had been planned in Pakistan. “We are fully prepared to welcome Sikh pilgrims from India for the occasion. But, we advise the SGPC to be cautious this time, keeping in view the two instances that brought embarrassment for both the sides,” he said.
As per information, 118 applicants had submitted their passports with the SGPC to become a part of the jatha planned to attend the commemoration of Guru Arjan Dev’s martyrdom day of which only 81 applications were forwarded to the authorities for verification and visa formalities.
Similarly, the SGPC has accepted only 82 applications of the 106 received for Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death anniversary.
“On our part, we were attentive over the selection of pilgrims but the onus of verification and authenticity will be gauged by government security agencies like the state and Centre’s Home Affairs Departments, the Foreign Affairs Department and the police,” said SGPC’s additional secretary Diljit Singh.
Sourced from The Tribune
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