In communication to State governments, the Ministry of Home Affairs mentioned, “making an allowance for the prevailing safety situation with Pakistan, it could not be doable to ship Sikh pilgrims Jatha to Pakistan..”
Nankana Sahib in Pakistan is the the birthplace of Guru Nanak.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann strongly objected to the Centre’s choice. He mentioned it’s arduous to grasp whether or not the BJP’s coverage is towards Pakistan or towards its personal individuals, including that it displays the hostile angle of the BJP authorities in direction of Punjab.
Senior Congress chief and MLA Pargat Singh additionally condemned the choice, declaring that whereas cricket matches, commerce, and movie exchanges with Pakistan are permitted, Sikh pilgrims are stopped. “Faith can’t be censored or confined. If cricket can cross borders, why can’t devotion?” he mentioned.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal famous that Sikh pilgrims had undertaken visits to holy shrines in Pakistan underneath the framework of the Nehru–Liaquat Pact of 1950, which explicitly supplies for 4 annual visits, probably the most vital of them being the Parkash Gurpurab of Sri Guru Nanak Sahib. “Not permitting them to take action would harm their spiritual emotions,” he mentioned.
He urged the Centre to evaluate its choice, demanding that pilgrims needs to be allowed to proceed at their very own danger. “Sikhs had visited Pakistan even throughout heightened hostility and contemplating the thaw in relations with the resumption of cricketing ties between the 2 nations, permission also needs to be granted for pilgrimage to Sikh holy websites in Pakistan,” he added.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which manages historic Gurdwaras, termed the choice as “unlucky”. SGPC secretary Pratap Singh requested the Centre authorities to permit the go to.
Published – September 15, 2025 10:40 pm IST
