Pakistan’s momentous initiative of Kartarpur Corridor has spurred the Sikh community of India to question Indian media’s persistent vilifying of Premier Imran Khan.
An Indian analyst Sudheendra Kulkarni shared the sentiments of the Sikh community on his Twitter account. He said Indian Sikhs asks him the Indian media’s disparaging behavior towards Imran Khan when he has led a historic project of Kartarpur Corridor between India and Pakistan.
My Sikh neighbors in #Mumbai set up a ‘langar’ to celebrate #GuruNanak550 tday
They were v happy when I said I’ll be going #KartarpurSahib soon
But they asked, “Why are our TV channels blaming #Pakistan all the time? @ImranKhanPTI has made good arrangements.”
Good Q. pic.twitter.com/dpLpcLMHZw— Sudheendra Kulkarni (@SudheenKulkarni) November 24, 2019
Kulkarni tends to agree with the concerns of the Sikh community. “Why are our TV channels blaming #Pakistan all the time? @ImranKhanPTI has made good arrangements.” Good Q.”, wrote Kulkarni on his Twitter account with a picture of him enjoying ‘langar‘ set up by the Sikh community in his neighborhood.
Another Indian social media user commented that Indian media, in its hostility towards Pakistan, remained mum about the exceptional arrangements made by the Pakistani authorities at ‘Kartarpur Sahib’ for Sikh devotees. He believes that Indian media’s unchecked rage towards Pakistan will keep the relations between both countries volatile.
Read more: Imran Khan awarded Lifetime Achievement Award by Sikh community
Nevertheless, Imran Khan and the government’s measure of Kartarpur Corridor has cheered the Sikh community; appreciation for Imran Khan continues to pour in from the global Sikh community.
Last week, Britain’s two leading Sikh Communities have awarded Prime Minister Imran Khan with a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award‘, during a ceremony held to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji-the founder of Sikhism.
The award recognized PM Khan’s remarkable initiative of ‘Kartarpur Corridor’, giving access to the Sikh community to visit their sacred sites in Pakistan primarily the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartapur, the second most sacred site for Sikh community.
Sikhs have appreciated arrangements made by Pakistan during visit to #KartarpurSahib unfortunately our media keeps mum on this and continues blaming #Pakistan all the https://t.co/Qbs7h3uk8e this rate hostility between us will never end !
— Nitin Parikh (@noparikh) November 24, 2019
It seems that Imran Khan’s vision of promoting religious tourism reaping benefits for Pakistan. The country’s image is undergoing an overhaul transformation globally. From being cornered as a ‘terrorist state’ Pakistan is re-emerging as a peaceful nation globally. Even, US Acting Assistant Secretary of State South Asia, Alice Wells also welcomed the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor. She called it a ‘positive example’.
However, Imran Khan is passionate to further his vision of bolstering religious tourism in Pakistan. The recent visits of delegations of Buddhist Monks from Thailand and Korea testify Pakistan’s attempts to change the optics of how the world views Pakistan.
Read more: Pakistan’s Promise to Hindus Pilgrims: Sharda Temple Corridor
Pakistan is also making arrangements to welcome Hindu devotees to visit their sacred sites in Pakistan from all over the world. The authorities have given a nod to the Sharda Temple Corridor in Azad Kashmir for Hindu devotees.
The success of Kartarpur Corridor has enticed Pakistan to pursue its commitment towards other religious minorities in the country. Pakistan’s people-to-people diplomacy is hoped to strengthen Pakistan’s goal of spearheading peace in the region.