Symbolic ‘reception’ for Sikhs denied permission to visit Pakistan

The government on Monday organised a symbolic ceremony for Indian Sikhs at Wagah Border, who could not visit Lahore to attend the death anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev Ji because of denial of permission by their government in the wake of the recent conflict between India and Pakistan.

Pakistan is willing to grant visas to the intending Indian Sikh pilgrims, but Delhi refused to allow them to visit the country.

The event was organised by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) in collaboration with the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.

Under the agreement with India, around 1,000 Indian Sikh pilgrims are allowed to visit Pakistan every year on June 9 to attend their religious event.

The apparent purpose to hold the ceremony at Wagah Border was to tell the Modi administration that Pakistan welcomes Indian Sikhs even at times when its relations with India are touching a new low.

The Indian government has imposed a ban on all its nationals to travel to Pakistan for an indefinite period.

Pakistan, last month, retaliated against India’s missile attacks following the Pahalgam terror attack. However, Islamabad imposed no visa restrictions on Indian Sikhs who can still visit their holy places in the country. From Pakistan’s side, the Kartarpur Corridor is still open, while India closed it for its citizens.

The ceremony was attended by ETPB Chairman Dr Sajid Mahmood Chauhan, Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee head Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, Additional Secretary Shrines Saif Ullah Khokhar and other senior officials.

During the ceremony, a red carpet was laid out at Wagah Border in symbolic anticipation of the arrival of Sikh pilgrims from India.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Arora said: “Pakistan is second home for the Sikhs, and all arrangements to receive Indian Sikh pilgrims were in place, but they could not come because of the Indian government highhandedness. The Kartarpur Corridor is still open on Pakistan’s side, while the Indian government has closed it.”

“India has brought religion into politics,” the minister said and commented that Modi should not have stopped Indian Sikhs from visiting Pakistan to attend their religious festivals after the ceasefire between the two countries.

Mr Khokhar said a red carpet had been laid out for the reception of Indian Sikhs but unfortunately, the Indian government did not allow them to come here.

“Nonetheless, we [will] keep inviting Indian Sikh pilgrims as they are welcome to Pakistan anytime,” he said and hoped that the pilgrims would be allowed to visit Pakistan to attend the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

The ETPB is holding two Sikh events in Lahore this month — the death anniversaries of Guru Arjan Dev Ji (Jor Mela) and Maharaja Ranjit Singh on June 16 and 29, respectively.

The main ceremony to mark Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s martyrdom, including the Bhog Akhand Path Sahib ritual, will be held on June 16 at Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore.

Similarly, the main event of the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh will be held on June 29 at his samadhi outside the Lahore Fort here.

Last year, over 800 and 450 Indian Sikhs visited Pakistan to attend death anniversaries of Guru Arjan Dev Ji and Maharaja Ranjit Singh, respectively.