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Sikhs mark JyotiJot Diwas of Guru Nanak in Pakistan
WSN Network
LAHORE: Seventy Sikh pilgrims from India arrived on the Samjhota
Express at Wagah Railway Station last Thursday to participate in the
468th death anniversary (Jyoti Jot) of Guru Nanak Dev. Jyoti Jot
functions ended on Saturday at Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Narowal.
Two major groups, one of which was led by Sardar Bhupinder Singh
Bhullar of Bhai Mardana Society, brought with them 38 pilgrims. The
third group of the Jora Ghar Sewa Society, Amritsar, led by Sardar
Swaran Singh Gill, arrived with another 32 pilgrims.
Sardar Harcharan Singh Brar from Mian Mir Foundation and former
Indian minister Sardar Baldev Singh Maan arrived on Friday with a
group of 25 pilgrims.
The pilgrims were received at Wagah Railway Station by members of
the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) including
PSGPC president Sardar Bishon Singh, PSGPC advisor Sardar Sham
Singh, Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) shrines administrator
Khurram Siddique and ETPB deputy administrator Faraz Abbas.
Bhullar was quoted by the Pakistan media that the pilgrims were
happy with the reception they received at Wagah. He said the people
of India and Pakistan needed to visit each other’s countries more
often to bridge the gap created between them by political
differences. He said the pilgrims did not have any difficulty
getting visas. However, he said a procedure should be introduced to
give pilgrims visas at the border because the current procedure
required them to go to New Delhi to get visas, which took too much
time. He said he would take up the issue with the Indian Punjab
government.
Sardar Gill said the political leaders of India and Pakistan should
learn to trust each other. He said that although getting visas for
Pakistan was not difficult, a different policy should be designed
for pilgrims and they should be given visas on the borders instead
of sending them to the high commissions. He said the love for Lahore
attracted Sikhs to the city and the visa policy should help them.
The pilgrims also visited other gurdwaras including Sacha Sauda,
Panja Sahib, Dera Sahib and Emanabad during their five-day visit.
26
September, 2007
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