Amritsar, Oct 28: The Sikh jatha (group of Sikh pilgrims) that was earlier denied permission from the Centre to go to Pakistan twice, finally got a nod for the visit on Saturday.
Sikh pilgrims visit Pakistan-based Sikh shrines including Nankana Sahib, birth place of founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev, on a special pilgrim visa for which the Ministry of External affairs (MEA) sends a recommendation to the Pakistan High Commission in India.
However, on two previous occasions — martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev and death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in June — the MEA did not send the list of Sikh pilgrims to the Pakistan High Commission as tension prevailed at the border.
The Centre, citing security concerns, told Sikh jathas that they could visit Pakistan at their own risk on ordinary visas. Notably, special security arrangements are made for those on a pilgrim visa in Pakistan.
The Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which sends the biggest Sikh jatha to Sikh shrines in Pakistan on special occasions, opted not to send any jatha, while some other Sikh organisations went ahead and sent jathas on ordinary visas. However, latter got disappointed as they could not do so because the Indian authorities did not allow the special train from Pakistan to enter India.
On both occasions, Sikh pilgrims were left stranded at the Attari railway station.“We have been told to collect passports of Sikh pilgrims with pilgrim visas,” SGPC secretary Roop Singh said.
News Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com
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