G S Paul  

SGPC chief Longowal ‘ignored’ as Badal bahu performs rituals for groundbreaking ceremony.  Union Ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri crossed the Attari-Wagah border to return to India after attending the ground breaking ceremony of the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib corridor in Narowal district of Pakistan’s Punjab today. The corridor will facilitate visa-free travel for Indian Sikh devotees.

Harsimrat said it was an emotional moment for her. She brought parshad and handful of mitti (clay) from the place where Guru Nanak Dev spent the later years of his life. She also performed ‘sewa’ at the holy place.

“We had no friends or relatives in Pakistan and were never invited by them. We only went to represent our country. I was fortunate to pay obeisance at this historic place for the first time only on the call given by Guru Nanak Dev,” she said.

She said she had firmly conveyed it to Pakistan that Kashmir would always be the integral part of India. “I have told their (Pakistan) media very clearly that Kashmir is a part of India and will stay that way. There is no scope of negotiation on this,” she said.

Puri said the demand for Kartarpur corridor was raised during Vajpayee’s visit to Pakistan in 1999. He said former CM Parkash Singh Badal accompanied the delegation then and the issue was raised on an official note. “The issue was discussed and passed in Parliament as a part of the Centre’s plan to celebrate 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev,” he said.

Meanwhile, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Gobind Singh Longowal appeared ignored during the programme in Pakistan. The dais was not spared for him to speak. Even during the foundation stone laying ceremony, Harsimrat performed the rituals and sprinkled the Golden Temple’s holy water on the foundation, whereas Longowal stood behind her only to assist with the requisite articles. Similar treatment was meted out to him during the programme held at Dera Baba Nanak.

 ‘If Berlin Wall can fall, so can mistrust’

If the Berlin Wall can fall, then the mistrust between two neighbourly countries, India and Pakistan, can also be removed through revisiting the message of peace and love spread by Guru Nanak… We have been so close, but so far for 70 years… Scores of Sikhs are on this journey for the first time today. I have no relatives here (in Pakistan). I never thought I would be here. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Minister

‘Goodwill gesture, but beware of reality’

This decision is anchored in hope and goodwill, but we have to be acutely conscious of the ground realities. We have to be aware of mistrust which exists because of several factors. We have felt for very long that we have been at the receiving end of actions of a country, of a state, which should not have allowed certain forces on their territory. Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister

‘2 capable leaders can resolve Kashmir’

The only issue between us is Kashmir. All it needs is just two capable leaderships to resolve this issue. Just imagine the potential we have if our relationship gets strong. Imran Khan, Pakistan Prime Minister

‘Stop harbouring cross-border terror’

Pakistan is reminded that it must fulfil its international obligations and take effective and credible action to stop providing shelter and all kind of support to cross-border terrorism from territories under its control. Raveesh Kumar, MEA spokesman

‘Corridor will open doors of hearts’

The blood-lettting should end, peace should return, mothers should not lose their sons. There has been a lot of bloodshed. I see this corridor as a big possibility. This is going to connect people, open doors of their hearts. It will establish contact. I am thankful to the Indian government and Prime Minister Imran Khan to establish the contact again. Navjot Singh Sidhu, Punjab Cabinet Minister

We have requested the Pak govt to allot some land near Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur to build a 100-room inn to facilitate pilgrims. Manjit Singh GK, DSGMC Chief

Courtesy: Hindustan Times: 28th Nov, 2018