Amritsar: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami has urged the Central government to review its decision on the continued closure of the Kartarpur Corridor and reopen it at the earliest, saying the issue is deeply connected with the religious sentiments of the Sikh community.
Reacting to Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh’s statement in Parliament that the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor will not be reopened for now, Dhami said the government should take a decision in accordance with the sentiments of the Sikh community.
He said Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib is the sacred place where Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji spent the final years of his life and gave the message of Kirat Karna, Naam Japna and Vand Chhakna to humanity. Visiting the holy shrine, he added, is a long-cherished aspiration and an expression of faith for Sikhs across the world.
Dhami said the prolonged closure of the corridor has deeply hurt the religious sentiments of devotees. He described the Kartarpur Corridor as a symbol of peace between the people of both countries and said there should be no objection to keeping it operational.
He further said that while national security remains the government’s foremost responsibility, equal importance should be given to protecting religious freedom and respecting the sentiments of devotees. Dhami urged the Centre to make appropriate security arrangements, review the matter at the earliest and take a decision to reopen the Kartarpur Corridor.
