A delegation from the Punjab BJP requested President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday to open the Kartarpur corridor for Gurpurab on 19 November so that pilgrims could visit the Gurdwara on Guru Nanank Dev ji’s birth anniversary.
“The Corridor was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. Since the country has done a job of vaccinating 110 crore people, we have requested the President to open the corridor for Gurpurab,” said state president Ashwani Sharma.
The delegation comprised of BJP leaders Dushyant Guatum, Harjit Singh Grewal, Dyal Singh Sodhi and Vikramjit Singh Cheema.
Followers of Guru Nanak should be allowed to travel to pay respects at the gurdwara sahib, said the BJP state president.
“The Gurupurab is on November 19 and we have apprised the Prime Minister that the followers of Guru Nanak be allowed to travel to Kartarpur sahib. The corridor was opened on November 9 in 2019 due to the initiative of the BJP,” he said.
“The historic gurdwara is a mere 4.7 kilometres from the Indian border and due to the total insensitivity of the Congress, it was not negotiated that it should be part of the Indian territory during partition in 1947,” he added.
“The Kartarpur corridor has facilitated the pilgrims to travel without a visa for Pakistan. The corridor was closed due to Covid last year and travel restrictions were imposed. Now we have requested the honourable Prime Minister that since the Covid situation has improved, the Sangat be allowed free access to travel,” the state BJP president stated stated.
Lauding the Prime Minister for an outstanding performance, he said, “India has vaccinated over 110 crore people and is the fastest vaccinating country in the world.”