Sukhbir Badal: Request Pak PM not to make Kartarpur a source of income

As Pakistan has plans to levy a tax on pilgrims of $20 for devotees from the Sikh community visiting the Kartarpur Corridor from India, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal has requested the neighbouring country's Prime Minister Imran Khan not to make it a source of income. The inaugural ceremony of the much-awaited Kartarpur corridor is slated to be held on November 9. 

"The fee is very high. I request the Prime Minister of Pakistan not to make this a source of income, it is a pilgrimage. Let this be a pilgrimage," Badal said. 

During the signing of an agreement with Pakistan on the modalities for operationalising Kartarpur Sahib Corridor last month, India had expressed disappointment after Pakistan refused to waive USD 20 service charge on Indians visiting Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara and urged Islamabad to reconsider its decision given the "religious and spiritual sentiments" of the pilgrims.

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Earlier on Friday, attempting a face-saver, Pakistan PM Imran Khan announced in a tweet said that he has waived off the $20 fees for Kartapur Corridor visit for pilgrims on the day of inauguration and on Guru Nanak's 550th birthday. In his tweet, he said that the devotees visiting Kartarpur will not need a passport. He also said that there is no need to register ten days in advance for the visit.

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The Kartarpur Corridor

The much-awaited corridor will connect the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur, Punjab, with the gurdwara at Kartarpur, just around four kilometres from the international border, located at Shakargarh in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab province. Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, had spent more than 18 years of his life at the Darbar Sahib gurdwara in Kartarpur, Pakistan, located on the banks of the river Ravi, making it one of the holiest sites for devotees. Spanning over an area of around 2.5 lakh sq feet, the terminal will have a facilitation centre to host government officials responsible for ensuring hassle-free travel of pilgrims, food kiosks, parking areas and security points. 

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India, Pakistan's agreement on Kartarpur Corridor

India and Pakistan had agreed to allow 5,000 pilgrims every day and that additional pilgrim will be allowed on special occasions, subject to capacity expansion of facilities by Pakistan side. India and Pakistan had also decided that the corridor would be operational throughout the year and seven days a week and that pilgrims would have a choice to visit as individuals or in groups. Both sides agreed to build a bridge on the Budhi Ravi channel. Pending the construction of the bridge on the Pakistan side, both sides agreed to the crossing point coordinates of the temporary service road.

In November 2018, India and Pakistan had agreed to set up the border crossing linking Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur to Dera Baba Nanak. The two sides had planned to open the corridor before the year-long celebrations to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev beginning in November.

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(With agencies input)