Tewari wants GoI to pay pilgrims’ fee for Kartarpur darshan

Chandigarh, October 22, 2019: Congress National Spokesperson and Shri Anandpur Sahib MP Manish Tewari today said that since Pakistan was stubborn over charging the ‘jazia’ of 20 US dollars from pilgrims going to Kartarpur Sahib, the government of India should come forward and bear these charges. He said, a Sikh pilgrim paying for ‘darshan’ goes against the spirit of the ‘khule darshan’ (free access). Terming the $20 to be charged by Pakistan from each pilgrim as ‘jazia’, Tewari said, since the governments of India and Pakistan were to sign the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on October 23, the government of India should incorporate the provision in the MOU that it will bear the cost of the ‘darshan’. “If Pakistan insists on USD 20 fee for Kartarpur pilgrims and India assigns agreement on 23rd October 2019, then NDA/BJP Govt should undertake to pay that Jazia Tax in MoU itself. Paying to visit Kartapur Sahib goes against grain of ‘Khule Darshan’ in Holy ardas”, he also tweeted. The Anandpur Sahib MP quoted the daily ‘ardas’, where in every Sikh prays for free access to all the Gurdwaras which were left in Pakistan at the time of partition. “Jeeo Sri Nankana Sahib tae hor Gurdwareaan, Gur Dhaamaan dae jinhaan tohn Panth noon vichhoraeaa geaa haee, Khulle darshan dee daara tae sevaa sambhaal daa daan Khalsa Jee noon baksho”. The Congress leader said, it will be a great step forward towards helping the community for free access to Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara, which is the dream and desire of every Sikh and which he always prays for in his daily ‘ardas’ (prayer)