Gurdaspur: Twenty-five years after first raising the demand, members of the Kartarpur Sahib Ravi Darshan Abhilashi Sanstha on Thursday once again gathered at Dera Baba Nanak to offer ardas for the reopening of the Kartarpur Corridor, which was closed during Operation Sindoor. The volunteers assembled near the international border, urging authorities to restore access for pilgrims to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur. The corridor enabled day-long visa-free travel for Indian devotees to visit the shrine located about 4.5 kilometres inside Pakistan from the international border.Sanstha president Gurpartap Singh Wadala said that members reached Dera Baba Nanak to pray for the immediate reopening of the corridor. “Due to its closure, lakhs of Sikh devotees are unable to fulfil their religious aspirations,” he said. The corridor was suspended shortly after the launch of Operation Sindoor in May 2025, when the govt halted the day-long pilgrimage, citing security concerns.While acknowledging the rationale behind the decision at the time, Wadala said the situation has since stabilised. “We understand that the govt acted in the interest of safety during Operation Sindoor, but now the circumstances have changed. The sentiments of the Sikh community must be considered,” he added. He further said that the Sanstha has been actively campaigning for the corridor’s opening for nearly two and a half decades, regularly holding prayers at the ‘darshan sthal’ established along the international border at Dera Baba Nanak.Notably, the Union Cabinet passed a resolution on Nov 22, 2018, to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev in a grand manner, which included approval for the development of the Kartarpur Corridor. The Integrated Check Post at Dera Baba Nanak was inaugurated on Nov 9, 2019, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, facilitating smooth, year-round access for pilgrims. Wadala said the Sanstha has now decided to meet Union home minister Amit Shah to apprise him of the community’s concerns, adding that they would also urge the govt to consider allowing pilgrims to stay overnight at Kartarpur Sahib. MSID: 129680714 413 |
