Indian Sikh Pilgrims Express Displeasure After Pakistani Authorities Reject 586 Visas For Nankana Sahib

The festive celebration of birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, founder of Sikhism, will be held from November 6-15 at his birthplace in Nankana Sahib, Pakistan.

Nankana Sahib Gurudwara, Pakistan

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New Delhi: Sikh pilgrims have expressed displeasure after Pakistani authorities rejected 586 visas of Indian Sikhs, who wished to visit the Nankana Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan for Guru Nanak Dev’s anniversary celebrations. According to news agency ANI, a total of 1496 visa applications were made for the visit.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) spokesperson Harbhajan Singh said, “SGPC had applied for 1496 visas, out of which, 910 were approved but 586 were rejected. The visas are valid for 10 days, and those whose visas were rejected. We are very disappointed. Government should not reject the religious visa.”

He said that an attempt should be made to connect the people of both countries through religious places.

“Both governments need to provide the facility of On Arrival Visa. A visa office must be opened at Attari-Wagah Border. The buses which used to run earlier, for the darshan of the Gurdwara of Pakistan, were also stopped. That should run again. Like the Delhi Lahore bus and Amritsar Nankana Sahib, even Samjhauta Express trains have been stopped. We should connect the people of both countries through religious places”, he further stated, as quoted by ANI.

On November 8, the pilgrims will be celebrating Guru Nanak Dev’s anniversary at Pakistan’s Nankana Sahib, his birthplace. Guru Nanak’s birth celebrations are scheduled to be held in Pakistan from November 6-15.

Earlier, it was reported that Pakistan had issued 2942 visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims for November 6-15 festive season.

The Pakistan high commission issued a statement in this regard mentioning, “The issuance of pilgrimage visas to religious pilgrims by the high commission is in line with the government of Pakistan’s commitment to fully implement the bilateral Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines between the two countries.”

Indian Sikh pilgrims, who travel to Pakistan, would visit Dera Sahib, Panja Sahib, Nankana Sahib, and Kartarpur Sahib. They will enter Pakistan on November 6 and return to India on November 15.

(With agency inputs)