Kartarpur Corridor: Amarinder Singh tells why he won't go to Pakistan

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday hit out at Pakistan and its army chief for promoting terror activities in the state and killing of Indian soldiers, warning the Imran Khan led dispensation of serious consequences if it did not put an end to the violence perpetrated against India.

Image: Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh. ( PTI/File)

GURDASPUR: Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday slammed Pakistan and its army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa for promoting terror activities in the state and killing of Indian soldiers. He also warned the Imran Khan government of serious consequences if it did not put an end to the violence perpetrated against India. Reiterating his stand of not going to Pakistan for ground breaking ceremony of the corridor there on November 28, Amarinder Singh said how could he go there when innocent Indian citizens and soldiers were being killed everyday. Lashing out at those who felt he should have accepted Pakistan's invitation to participate in their ground-breaking ceremony of Kartarpur Corridor, Amarinder asked how he could go there when innocent Indian citizens and soldiers were being killed by them everyday. "I am saying this because some things came up in Facebook in which many are saying Capt Sahab why don't you go there. How will I go? I cannot forget my responsibility towards my citizens, I cannot go there. Because before reaching Kartarpur Sahib, I will have to go through Pakistan and Pakistan government is out of control," Amarinder told the gathering. Even as he thanked Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for reciprocating India's move on developing the Kartarpur corridor, the Chief Minister was scathing in his criticism of Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa for "promoting state-sponsored terror through brutal killings of Indian soldiers and innocent citizens". He urged Imran Khan to rein in his Army and bring an immediate end to terror against Indian armed forces and citizens, "or else be ready to face a strong reaction from India, which has a bigger army than the neighbouring country". Taking a strong stand on the issue of terror, which was immediately endorsed and backed by Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu who was present on the occasion of the foundation stone laying ceremony of a road link to the Kartarpur corridor, the Chief Minister said India was a land of peace but was prepared to counter Pakistan's aggression in kind if continued to be threatened. The foundation stone of a road that will link the border belt of Punjab's Gurdaspur district with the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara corridor was laid on Monday. The road would connect the area with the international border (IB) near Dera Baba Nanak. With the governments of India and Pakistan announcing that they will construct the Kartarpur Corridor on their side to enable pilgrims from India to visit the Sikh shrine located in Pakistan -- a long-pending demand of the Sikh community for access to the shrine is close to becoming a reality. It was at the Kartarpur gurdwara, located around two to three kilometre from the India-Pakistan international border and situated right opposite the border belt in Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district in India, that Guru Nanak Dev spent 18 years of his life till his death in 1539. The gurdwara, which fell in the Pakistani territory following the partition of India in August 1947, has big significance in Sikh religion and history. For the past 71 years, even since partition, Sikhs have been offering prayers near the IB watching the gurdwara from afar. (With inputs from agencies)