All eyes on Kartarpur corridor !

K S Chawla

Kartarpur Corridor’s artistic impression

Pakistani workers giving finishing touches to the shrine of Sikh
spiritual leader Guru Nanak Dev in Kartarpur, Pakistan Finishing touches are being given to the construction works at the Kartarpur corridor which would connect Darbar Sahib – the historic shrine where Guru Nanak Dev – the founder of the Sikh religion spent last years of his life and consolidated the hymns recited by him during his travels of thirty years. Kartarpur is located within the Pakistan territory, 4.7 kms from the Pakistan-India border.
The Sikhs have been demanding the corridor from Dera Baba Nanak along the Indian border to have Darshan of Darbar Sahib Gurdwara which was built in memory of Guru Nanak Dev.

The decision to provide corridor was taken by Pakistan government in 2018 and this decision was conveyed by Pakistan Army Chief General Bajwa to Navjot Singh Sidhu who was minister in the Congress government in Indian Punjab when he went to Pakistan to participate in the swearing in ceremony of Imran Khan as Prime Minister of Pakistan –being his personal fried as a cricketer.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan shakes hands with Navjot Singh Sidhu during ground breaking ceremony for Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan's Kartarpur, Nov. 28, 2018. After this announcement by Navjot on his return to India, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha passed a unanimous resolution urging the Prime Minister of India to take up with Pakistan for the provision of a corridor at Kartarpur. The Prime Minister also responded positively. So far, the Sikhs had been using an elevated telescope put up at Dera Baba Nanak to have darshan of Gurdwara at Kartarpur.
Both India and Pakistan Governments have undertaken construction works to lay roads, integrated check posts and immigration office for security checks. Bridges on river Ravi have been constructed on both sides by both the governments to facilitate the arrival of the pilgrims. The corridor will be opened on November 8, three days before the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. Thousands of pilgrims are expected to visit Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara to pay obeisance to Guru Nanak Dev. They will start visiting Kartarpur from November 9. Pakistan Government has agreed to clear five thousand pilgrims daily from dawn to dusk for Darshan-Didar and fixed an entry fee or what is called pass fee of 20 US dollars per person.

Prithipal Singh Kapoor According to Prof. Prithipal Singh Kapoor former Head of the Encyclopaedia of Sikhism, Punjabi University, it was at Kartarpur Sahib that Guru Nanak consolidated his hymns (bani) which he had preached during his travels in different parts of the world.
Guru Nanak included the Bani of Bhakats, namely Farid and Namdev in the Guru Granth Sahib. It was at Kartarpur that Guru Nanak started the tradition of community ‘langar’ for all without any caste or creed. Guru Nanak tilled land at Kartarpur and he breathed his last at this place. Guru Nanak stayed at Kartarpur for 18 years.
Prof. Prithipal Singh said Sikhs now have two historic centres of worship-Nankana Sahib – the birth place of Guru Nanak and Kartarpur – the last destination of the great apostle of peace.
Kartarpur would emerge as a new tourist centre in Pakistan and India and this would provide financial support to Pakistan business community. It is important to make a mention of Jathedar Kuldip Singh Wadala, a senior Akali leader, who had been visiting Dera Baba Nanak for 24 years every month to pray for the opening of the corridor at Kartarpur. He died a few years ago.

Indira Gandhi Atal Bihari Vajpayee Manmohan Singh The demand for the Kartarpur Corridor had been made ever since the partition of the country – 70 years ago. Negotiations were held at different levels between the governments of India and Pakistan but the thing could not click. In 1969, at the quincentenary of Guru Nanak, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi proposed swapping of land for the Kartarpur Gurdwara. But no headway could be made. During the visit of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Lahore in 1999, the issue was raised with Nawaz Sharif. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also raised this issue.

Vice-President Venkiah Naidu laid the foundation stone of the Dera Baba Nanak-Kartarpur Corridor at village Mann in Gurdaspur district. Two days later, on November 28, 2018, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan laid the foundation stone for the Corridor at Narrowal district of Pakistan Punjab. Two Indian ministers, namely Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Puri, participated in the function. Navjot Sidhu and Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Amritsar MP also participated.

It is irony that, a person who brought the news of opening of the Corridor, Navjot Sidhu, has since been dropped from the Cabinet and has become a non-entity now.

The demand for the Kartarpur Corridor had been made ever since the partition of the country – 70 years ago. Negotiations were held at different levels between the governments of India and Pakistan but the thing could not click. In 1969, at the quincentenary of Guru Nanak, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi proposed swapping of land for the Kartarpur Gurdwara. But no headway could be made. During the visit of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Lahore in 1999, the issue was raised with Nawaz Sharif.

Security and intelligence agencies have their apprehensions about the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor. They apprehend that Pakistan may use this Corridor to create disturbances in Punjab and Kashmir with instructions from the ISI. There is already a nexus between the Khalistani elements and the Kashmiri militants and they have been working together to disturb peace in the two states.

After the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A, Pakistani drones have dropped arms and ammunition in the vicinity of TarnTaran district of Punjab and the Punjab police have busted the module involving the supporters of Khalistan Zindabad Force headed by Ranjit Singh Neeta who is based in Pakistan.

There are some more Khalistani militants based in Pakistan and are getting all support from ISI. Pakistani drones have also been spotted in Ferozepur sector of Indo-Pak border.

According to intelligence agencies, ISI had a longtime programme to convert Kartarpur gurdwara into a tourist spot and now Pakistan is constructing hotels at Kartarpur. Kartarpur has close proximity to Punjab and it is easy to create communal disturbances in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. A number of six Punjab militants who were active during militancy in Punjab in 1980s are still based in Pakistan and they keep moving to other countries including Canada, UK, USA, Germany and European countries.

Sukhbir Singh and Harsimrat Badal Celebration of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev is purely a religious function, but the Congress Government in Punjab and the leaders of Shiromini Akali Dal led by Sukhbir Singh Badal and Harsimrat Badal and SGPC are engaged in a war of word and accusing one an other of sabotaging the joint celebrations of 550th birth anniversary.
The Akal Takhat Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh had made an appeal to the state government and the SGPC to jointly organize the main function at Sultanpur Lodhi. A joint committee consisting of representatives of SGPC and Ministers of Punjab was also formed to chalk out the programme. But the talks have not succeeded.

Sukhbir Singh and Harsimrat Badal took a delegation to the President and the Prime Minister to extend an invitation for the Sultanpur Lodhi function to be held on November 12. The Congress Ministers took exception to the same and maintained that the Congress should have also been taken along.

Gobind Singh Longowal Now the SGPC President Gobind Singh Longowal has declared that the SGPC would organize the function separately and would not associate the Congress government. SGPC would organize the function at Guru Nanak Stadium at Sultanpur Lodhi. In fact, the Badals were not keen to a s s o c i a t e C o n g r e s s government with the celebrations. The SGPC c a n n o t violate the Badals.
T h e C o n g r e s s government led by Amarinder Singh would organize its function at Sultanpur Lodhi on November 12 and is constructing a huge pandal. The govt. has also set up a tent house.

Amarinder Singh Chief Minister Amarinder Singh would lead a jatha of all MLAs of Punjab, representatives of the political parties and Dr. Manmohan Singh to Kartarpur Corridor on November 9. Dr. Manmohan Singh has accepted the invitation of Amarinder Singh and would go as a pilgrim. He has declined the invitation of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to inaugurate the Corridor in Pakistan.



		EDITOR'S MAIL EDITOR'S COMMENT POLL VERDICT BIG PMC FRAUD FRANKLY SPEAKING GURU NANAK JAYANTI REALPOLITIK RSS & FOREIGN MEDIA MOONSOON FURY HIMACHAL GLOBAL INVESTORS' MEET 2019 CHANDIGARH DIARY INDIA-CHINA RELATIONS SHEIKH HASINA'S VISIT TO INDIA PAKISTAN WATCH AMERICA WATCH HITS & MISSES BOOK BAZAAR SAVING ECO SYSTEM SIGNS OF THE TIMES MARTIAL SPIRIT THE MAKING OF A FILM CHAND PE CHARCHA ART OF LIVING Issue:June' 2019 Subscribe Now	GURU NANAK JAYANTI All eyes on Kartarpur corridor ! K S Chawla Kartarpur Corridor’s artistic impression Pakistani workers giving finishing touches to the shrine of Sikh spiritual leader Guru Nanak Dev in Kartarpur, Pakistan Finishing touches are being given to the construction works at the Kartarpur corridor which would connect Darbar Sahib – the historic shrine where Guru Nanak Dev – the founder of the Sikh religion spent last years of his life and consolidated the hymns recited by him during his travels of thirty years. Kartarpur is located within the Pakistan territory, 4.7 kms from the Pakistan-India border. The Sikhs have been demanding the corridor from Dera Baba Nanak along the Indian border to have Darshan of Darbar Sahib Gurdwara which was built in memory of Guru Nanak Dev. The decision to provide corridor was taken by Pakistan government in 2018 and this decision was conveyed by Pakistan Army Chief General Bajwa to Navjot Singh Sidhu who was minister in the Congress government in Indian Punjab when he went to Pakistan to participate in the swearing in ceremony of Imran Khan as Prime Minister of Pakistan –being his personal fried as a cricketer. Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan shakes hands with Navjot Singh Sidhu during ground breaking ceremony for Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan's Kartarpur, Nov. 28, 2018. After this announcement by Navjot on his return to India, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha passed a unanimous resolution urging the Prime Minister of India to take up with Pakistan for the provision of a corridor at Kartarpur. The Prime Minister also responded positively. So far, the Sikhs had been using an elevated telescope put up at Dera Baba Nanak to have darshan of Gurdwara at Kartarpur. Both India and Pakistan Governments have undertaken construction works to lay roads, integrated check posts and immigration office for security checks. Bridges on river Ravi have been constructed on both sides by both the governments to facilitate the arrival of the pilgrims. The corridor will be opened on November 8, three days before the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. Thousands of pilgrims are expected to visit Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara to pay obeisance to Guru Nanak Dev. They will start visiting Kartarpur from November 9. Pakistan Government has agreed to clear five thousand pilgrims daily from dawn to dusk for Darshan-Didar and fixed an entry fee or what is called pass fee of 20 US dollars per person. Prithipal Singh Kapoor According to Prof. Prithipal Singh Kapoor former Head of the Encyclopaedia of Sikhism, Punjabi University, it was at Kartarpur Sahib that Guru Nanak consolidated his hymns (bani) which he had preached during his travels in different parts of the world. Guru Nanak included the Bani of Bhakats, namely Farid and Namdev in the Guru Granth Sahib. It was at Kartarpur that Guru Nanak started the tradition of community ‘langar’ for all without any caste or creed. Guru Nanak tilled land at Kartarpur and he breathed his last at this place. Guru Nanak stayed at Kartarpur for 18 years. Prof. Prithipal Singh said Sikhs now have two historic centres of worship-Nankana Sahib – the birth place of Guru Nanak and Kartarpur – the last destination of the great apostle of peace. Kartarpur would emerge as a new tourist centre in Pakistan and India and this would provide financial support to Pakistan business community. It is important to make a mention of Jathedar Kuldip Singh Wadala, a senior Akali leader, who had been visiting Dera Baba Nanak for 24 years every month to pray for the opening of the corridor at Kartarpur. He died a few years ago. Indira Gandhi Atal Bihari Vajpayee Manmohan Singh The demand for the Kartarpur Corridor had been made ever since the partition of the country – 70 years ago. Negotiations were held at different levels between the governments of India and Pakistan but the thing could not click. In 1969, at the quincentenary of Guru Nanak, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi proposed swapping of land for the Kartarpur Gurdwara. But no headway could be made. During the visit of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Lahore in 1999, the issue was raised with Nawaz Sharif. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also raised this issue. Vice-President Venkiah Naidu laid the foundation stone of the Dera Baba Nanak-Kartarpur Corridor at village Mann in Gurdaspur district. Two days later, on November 28, 2018, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan laid the foundation stone for the Corridor at Narrowal district of Pakistan Punjab. Two Indian ministers, namely Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Puri, participated in the function. Navjot Sidhu and Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Amritsar MP also participated. It is irony that, a person who brought the news of opening of the Corridor, Navjot Sidhu, has since been dropped from the Cabinet and has become a non-entity now. The demand for the Kartarpur Corridor had been made ever since the partition of the country – 70 years ago. Negotiations were held at different levels between the governments of India and Pakistan but the thing could not click. In 1969, at the quincentenary of Guru Nanak, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi proposed swapping of land for the Kartarpur Gurdwara. But no headway could be made. During the visit of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Lahore in 1999, the issue was raised with Nawaz Sharif. Security and intelligence agencies have their apprehensions about the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor. They apprehend that Pakistan may use this Corridor to create disturbances in Punjab and Kashmir with instructions from the ISI. There is already a nexus between the Khalistani elements and the Kashmiri militants and they have been working together to disturb peace in the two states. After the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A, Pakistani drones have dropped arms and ammunition in the vicinity of TarnTaran district of Punjab and the Punjab police have busted the module involving the supporters of Khalistan Zindabad Force headed by Ranjit Singh Neeta who is based in Pakistan. There are some more Khalistani militants based in Pakistan and are getting all support from ISI. Pakistani drones have also been spotted in Ferozepur sector of Indo-Pak border. According to intelligence agencies, ISI had a longtime programme to convert Kartarpur gurdwara into a tourist spot and now Pakistan is constructing hotels at Kartarpur. Kartarpur has close proximity to Punjab and it is easy to create communal disturbances in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. A number of six Punjab militants who were active during militancy in Punjab in 1980s are still based in Pakistan and they keep moving to other countries including Canada, UK, USA, Germany and European countries. Sukhbir Singh and Harsimrat Badal Celebration of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev is purely a religious function, but the Congress Government in Punjab and the leaders of Shiromini Akali Dal led by Sukhbir Singh Badal and Harsimrat Badal and SGPC are engaged in a war of word and accusing one an other of sabotaging the joint celebrations of 550th birth anniversary. The Akal Takhat Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh had made an appeal to the state government and the SGPC to jointly organize the main function at Sultanpur Lodhi. A joint committee consisting of representatives of SGPC and Ministers of Punjab was also formed to chalk out the programme. But the talks have not succeeded. Sukhbir Singh and Harsimrat Badal took a delegation to the President and the Prime Minister to extend an invitation for the Sultanpur Lodhi function to be held on November 12. The Congress Ministers took exception to the same and maintained that the Congress should have also been taken along. Gobind Singh Longowal Now the SGPC President Gobind Singh Longowal has declared that the SGPC would organize the function separately and would not associate the Congress government. SGPC would organize the function at Guru Nanak Stadium at Sultanpur Lodhi. In fact, the Badals were not keen to a s s o c i a t e C o n g r e s s government with the celebrations. The SGPC c a n n o t violate the Badals. T h e C o n g r e s s government led by Amarinder Singh would organize its function at Sultanpur Lodhi on November 12 and is constructing a huge pandal. The govt. has also set up a tent house. Amarinder Singh Chief Minister Amarinder Singh would lead a jatha of all MLAs of Punjab, representatives of the political parties and Dr. Manmohan Singh to Kartarpur Corridor on November 9. Dr. Manmohan Singh has accepted the invitation of Amarinder Singh and would go as a pilgrim. He has declined the invitation of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to inaugurate the Corridor in Pakistan.