KARTARPUR: Indian politician and former TV host Navjot Singh Sidhu Saturday urged both Prime Minister Imran Khan and Indian Premier Narendra Modi to “open doors for peace” and end the enmity between their two countries.
Sidhu’s name was left out from the delegation of Indian Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh on Thursday. The omission was blamed on a “technical glitch” by Indian officials.
Sidhu, who calls Prime Minister Imran Khan a close friend visited the Kartarpur shrine of Sikh Guru Nanak Dev and spoke to journalists at Kartarpur. He said if Pakistan and India could end the enmity, the trade between them and other countries would increase to $37 billion.
After returning from Kartparpur later in the day, he held a press conference in the Indian territory and said that he desired prosperity not only for 30 million Indian Punjabis but for everyone. He cited the example of Europe which was embroiled in internal conflicts for centuries but later became united under the European Union.
He said goods between Pakistan and India have to travel 2,100 kilometres before arriving at markets. The same distance could be reduced to 21 kilometres, he said.
He also urged the two nations to reopen shrines in both countries to devotees.
Renowned Indian politician and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu arrived in Pakistan on Saturday via Kartarpur Corridor to take part in the annual commemoration of the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.
On behalf of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Kartarpur Corridor Project Management Unit chief executive officer welcomed Navjot Singh Sidhu upon arrival in Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, Sidhu thanked the prime minister for the rousing welcome.
The former Indian cricketer-turned politician says, “He [PM Imran Khan] is my elder brother.”
Later, he visited Gurdwara Darbar Sahib and performed religious rituals.
Indian Punjab CM, other Indian politicians visit Gurdwara Sahib
Earlier on November 18, Important Indian politicians, including the Indian Punjab chief minister, had visited the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, a day before Gurpurab, which marks the birth anniversary of Sikhism founder Baba Guru Nanak.
The Kartarpur Corridor, which links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district, was reopened on Wednesday.
Pilgrimage to the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Indian Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi, along with his ministers, were part of the first delegation to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur.
Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) president Sardar Ameer Singh had greeted and received them on their arrival.
