Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, Raghav Chadha, raised the issue of Shri Kartarpur Sahib pilgrimage in the Parliament.
Raghav Chadha said that the opening of Shri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for pilgrimage of historic Gurdwara, which was revered the world over as the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev, was the fulfilment of a cherished dream for the entire Sikh community.
Chadha said that everyone wants to visit Sri Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara, but the devotees have to face many problems. “The first problem is that a pilgrim must have a passport. If you do not have a passport then you cannot go to Shri Kartarpur Sahib. The Government of India should take up this issue with the Government of Pakistan,” said Raghav Chadha.
The second problem is $20 fee taken from every Indian citizen who uses the Kartarpur Corridor to travel without a visa to the Sikh shrine located across the border. “Therefore, if five members of the family want to go every year, then they will have to spend Rs 8,000 for the year. This fee collection should be stopped so that the devotees can go to Shri Kartarpur Sahib comfortably,” he added.
The third problem, Chadha said, is linked to the intricate online registration process, which is currently quite complex. It should be simplified so that the devotees do not face trouble and their time is not wasted. Chadha said that once these problems are resolved, all devotees can pay obeisance at Guru’s feet in Pakistan.
In terms of history, the Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor is very significant. It is believed that Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib was built on the historic site where the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, settled and assembled the Sikh community after his missionary traveled and lived for 18 years until his death on 22 September 1539. After partition, the gurudwara went to Pakistan, but it is still one of the biggest centers of faith for both the countries.
