Amarinder Singh, Punjab’s current Chief Minister has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reopen the Kartarpur Corridor since the lockdown situation in both countries has improved.
In an official letter to PM Modi, Mr. Singh has requested that the current ban on travel to Pakistan should be reconsidered as Punjab has shown significant improvement in the past month over the covid-19 pandemic.
“And I am happy to announce that yesterday, no Covid-19 related death was reported after a period of almost one year,” Mr. Singh wrote.
Read more: Pakistani Sikh community invites Indians to visit Kartarpur
This means that since the third wave of coronavirus is currently under control, the people of India have voiced their desire once again to visit the holy shrine in Pakistan.
I strongly urge PM @narendramodi Ji to reopen the Kartarpur Corridor in view of the improved #Covid19 situation. People have evinced strong desire of visiting the historic Gurudwara Darbar Sahib and we should facilitate ‘Khulle Darshan Didar”. pic.twitter.com/e3c9hHBXj1
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) July 28, 2021
The letter also said that the State government of Punjab would be happy to work in conjunction with the Government of India to ensure adherence to proper Covid-19 protocols, including testing and vaccination of pilgrims using the Corridor.
Previously on 13th July, Pakistani Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) had invited the President of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Bibi Jagir Kaur along with Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Harpreet Singh to visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur.
In January 2021, famous Indian comedian Kapil Sharma had also expressed his wish to visit Kartarpur Corridor.
I want to visit shri kartarpur sahib .. let’s see when 🙏 https://t.co/TBCO0cW1sY
— Kapil Sharma (@KapilSharmaK9) January 28, 2021
The corridor is closed since March 2020, when lockdowns were implemented in both Pakistan and India amidst the coronavirus pandemic. However, Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs had announced in October 2020 that the corridor would be opened but India made it clear that it would not be sending the pilgrims anytime soon.
Read more: Indian comedian Kapil Sharma wants to visit Kartarpur Sahib soon
In December 2020, Former Union minister of India Harsimrat Kaur Badal had also urged the External Affairs Ministry of India to reopen the Corridor as Sikhs have been pained at not being able to visit the last resting place of Guru Nanak Dev on his 551st birth anniversary.