Sikhs express disappointment over no announcement on reopening of Kartarpur corridor

Amritsar: There was considerable expectation among the followers of Sikhism that during his Punjab visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi would make a special announcement on the reopening of the Kartarpur Corridor, enabling devotees to undertake the day-long pilgrimage to Kartarpur in Pakistan to pay obeisance at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, the final resting place of Sikhism's founder, Guru Nanak Dev.Expressing disappointment, Baba Amrik Singh Ajnala, chief of Damdami Taksal, Ajnala, said that denying Sikhs access to one of their most revered religious sites amounted to a grave injustice. He said the Sikh community hoped that Prime Minister Modi would announce the reopening of the corridor as a special goodwill gesture, but those expectations remained unfulfilled. Notably, the Kartarpur pilgrimage was suspended hours after the launch of Operation Sindoor on May 6, 2025, with India citing security concerns for pilgrims as the reason for halting cross-border movement.Jagjit Singh Bhullar of the Bhai Mardana Yadgiri Kirtan Darbar Society, one of the organisations that regularly takes jathas to Pakistan, also expressed disappointment over the absence of any announcement. He said his organisation received a large number of enquiries from devotees seeking clarity on the reopening of the corridor. Bhullar added that Sikh devotees pinned high hopes on Prime Minister Modi's visit to Punjab, expecting a gesture of accommodation, but those hopes were not realised. It may be recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor on Nov 9, 2019, by flagging off the first group of pilgrims from the Indian side. On the Pakistani side, the corridor was inaugurated by then Prime Minister Imran Khan.Sikh thinker and intellectual Parshotam Ajnala expressed disappointment over Prime Minister Narendra Modi not making any announcement on the reopening of the Kartarpur Corridor, despite widespread hopes within the Sikh community. He said the corridor is not merely a travel route, but a symbol of faith and emotional connection for Sikhs. Ajnala added that the absence of any assurance deeply hurt sentiments and prolonged uncertainty among devotees eager to pay obeisance at Kartarpur Sahib.World Bank chief visits Panja SahibWorld Bank President Ajay Banga, the first Sikh to head the global financial institution, paid obeisance at Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Pakistan, marking a moment of deep religious and symbolic significance for the Sikh community worldwide. The visit was highlighted in a social media post by Ramesh Singh Arora, Punjab Cabinet minister and President of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC), on Sunday who shared photographs and details of the occasion. Arora described it as an honour to welcome Ajay Banga to one of Sikhism's most sacred shrines, where Guru Nanak Dev spent his final years. During the visit, Banga paid obeisance, offered prayers, and partook langar alongside members of the local Sikh sangat. His interaction with devotees was described as warm and humble, reflecting the egalitarian spirit of Sikhism. According to Arora, the World Bank President was also briefed on steps being taken by the govt of Pakistan, particularly the Punjab govt, to protect and uplift minority communities. These include preservation of religious heritage sites and efforts to ensure equality and inclusion. MSID: 127842192 413 |