Capt Amarinder Singh flays denial of permission to Punjab delegates to visit Nankana Sahib

Dera Baba Nanak/Sultanpur Lodhi, October 31, 2019: Hitting out at SAD for politicizing the auspicious 550th Prakash Purb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday accused them of obstructing joint celebration of the historic event, even as he flayed the denial of permission/visa to the Punjab ministers, MPs and MLAs to visit Sri Nankana Sahib.
Talking informally to mediapersons while reviewing the arrangements for the commemorative events, the Chief Minister said the occasion was one of pride, which his government wanted to celebrate collectively, rising above petty political considerations. However, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) scuttled all attempts of the state government to ensure joint celebrations, he said, terming it sheer pettiness on the part of the Akalis, particularly Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal.
Pointing out that his government had spent Rs. 550 crores to ensure befitting celebration of the momentous event, Captain Amarinder said the entire occasion had been transformed to a political drama by the Akalis, backed by their allies, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
On the denial of visa to his cabinet colleagues and other Punjab representatives to visit Gurdwara Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, the Chief Minister termed it as extremely unfortunate.
Politics should have been kept aside on this religious occasion, he asserted, while reiterating his protest against Islamabad’s refusal to withdraw the $20 fee on pilgrims visiting Kartarpur Gurdwara via the Corridor. He urged the Imran Khan led government to be large-hearted, keeping in view Sikh sentiment and tradition. Asked if the state government was ready to pay the said amount on behalf of the pilgrims, Captain Amarinder said he was, in principle, against giving anything to Pakistan on this count.
On Pakistan’s invitation to Navjot Singh Sidhu to attend the Kartarpur Corridor inauguration, the Chief Minister asked the mediapersons to ask his former cabinet colleague about it.
In response to a question, Captain Amarinder rejected as `crap’ SAD’s claims on central government funding the majority of the development projects to commemorate the 550th Prakash Purb. The Centre gave money for only two projects, and one of them was only partially funded by them, he said, adding that the state government had already spent Rs. 550 crores and would be spending more on infrastructural development and various events.
Refusing to indulge in any politicking on the issue, raised by Harsimrat, the Chief Minister said it was a matter of pride for Punjab and the Sikh community that the Vice President of India will also be going to Kartarpur Sahib on November 9, when the first Jatha passes through Kartarpur Corridor.
The Chief Minister, who reviewed the progress of work of Kartarpur Corridor, which will be opening for devotees on November 9, 2019 at Zero Line (India-Pakistan International Border, Dera Baba Nanak), said all work undertaken by the state government was complete. Only the work on the Integrated Check Post of the Land Port Authority was still continuing under the central government’s supervision, he said, but was hopeful it would also be completed by 9th November.