Kartarpur Corridor: PM Modi Flags Off First Batch Of Pilgrims; Thanks Pakistan PM Imran Khan

Asserting that he is fortunate to be able to dedicate the Kartarpur corridor to the country, Modi said the opening of the corridor and the integrated check post will bring double happiness to the people.

Gurdaspur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during the inauguration of the integrated check-post of Kartarpur Corridor at Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, flagged off the pilgrimage to Darbar Sahib in Pakistan after inaugurating the Kartarpur Corridor and also thanked his Pakistan counterpart Imran Khan for understanding India's sentiment on the issue of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor. He earlier inaugurated the Integrated Check Post at the Corridor, facilitating the first batch of the Indian Sikh pilgrims to enter Pakistan. Kartarpur Corridor is the religious link, a first in seven decades between India and Pakistan, in Punjab's Gurdaspur district, which shall facilitate Indian pilgrims to visit to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan. The corridor was thrown open on Saturday, ahead of the 550th birth anniversary of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev. The corridor links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab's Gurdaspur. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the first batch of over 500 pilgrims, saying it will be easy to pay obeisance at the Darbar Sahib gurdwara after the opening of the Kartarpur corridor. Asserting that he is fortunate to be able to dedicate the Kartarpur corridor to the country, Modi said the opening of the corridor and the integrated check post will bring double happiness to the people. Imran Khan to receive first batch of pilgrims on the other side: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will receive the Indian pilgrims which include former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Akal Takht Jathedar Harpreet Singh, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, Sukhbir Singh Badal, Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Navjot Singh Sidhu. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee members and all the 117 MLAs and MPs from Punjab including ministers are also part of the first 'jatha'. Also watch: I feel honored in delivering the Kartarpur corridor, Says PM Modi No service charge on inauguration day: Already there have been mixed signals from Pakistan on the requirement of passports for the visiting pilgrims from India using the corridor. Pakistani authorities have also retracted the USD 20 service charge waiver for the inauguration day on Saturday. Earlier, sources in New Delhi said Pakistan has conveyed to India that pilgrims using the Kartarpur corridor on Saturday will also have to pay the USD 20 service fee, going back on its promise. In another U-turn hours later, Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said that Pakistan will not collect any service charge from Indian pilgrims on November 9 and 12.