Govt to build Kartarpur corridor, Pakistan urged to follow suit
What's the story
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the development of the Kartarpur corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district to the international border shared with Pakistan.
Pakistan has also been urged to develop its side of the corridor, that will allow Sikh pilgrims easy access to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan where Guru Nanak spent 18 years.
Here's more.
Twitter Post
Home Minister Rajnath Singh announces the decision
The Kartarpur corridor will provide smooth and easy passage to pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib throughout the year. Government of Pakistan will be urged to reciprocate and develop a corridor with suitable facilities in their territory.
— राजनाथ सिंह (@rajnathsingh) November 22, 2018
Demands
For years, the Sikh community has been demanding the corridor
For those unaware, the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur is situated inside Pakistan, 3km from the international border, and is the final resting place of Guru Nanak.
For years, the Sikh community, led by political leaders and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, has been demanding the development of a corridor to allow Sikh pilgrims to travel to site and back to India within a day.
Sidhu
Embattled minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has welcomed the move
Reacting to the government's decision, Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu welcomed it, and asked Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to reciprocate the Indian government's move.
Earlier, Sidhu had been caught up in a controversy after he was seen hugging the Pakistan Army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, during his visit to Pakistan. When questioned, he explained that Bajwa had mentioned Guru Nanak.
Controversy
The Sidhu controversy had involved the Kartarpur corridor
Sidhu was seen hugging Bajwa during cricketer-turned-political and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's oath taking ceremony.
After facing flak in India, Sidhu said that Bajwa had told him that Pakistan would open the Kartarpur corridor on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak in 2019.
"When someone takes the name of Baba Nanak, then he has offered you everything," Sidhu had said.