Amritsar, July 17: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami on Thursday said the SGPC will soon approach the Union government seeking permission to send a Sikh jatha to Pakistan for celebrating the Parkash Gurpurb of Guru Nanak Dev Ji on November 5.
“Sending jathas to gurdwaras in Pakistan on historic occasions is a tradition. We cannot discontinue it. Sikh sentiments are attached to this pilgrimage,” Dhami told this correspondent over the phone. “Parkash Gurpurb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is the most sacred and pious occasion for Sikhs.”
The SGPC was forced to cancel the scheduled jatha for Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death anniversary on June 29 due to travel restrictions imposed after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which left 26 dead. Although visas had been issued by Pakistan for that visit, the Union government had advised against sending the jatha.
Dhami said, “By November, there may be cordial relations between both the countries. If pilgrims get the Pakistani visa and the travel restriction is not lifted, we will urge the Centre to allow the pilgrimage.”
Initiating preparations, the SGPC has asked aspiring pilgrims to submit their passports to the committee’s Amritsar office by August 4, so that visas from Pakistan can be obtained. SGPC secretary Partap Singh said pilgrims also need a recommendation from the area SGPC member.
Under the 1950 bilateral agreement, Sikh jathas are permitted to visit Pakistani gurdwaras on four major religious occasions — Baisakhi, Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s martyrdom anniversary, Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death anniversary, and Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Parkash Gurpurb.
Following the Pahalgam terror attack, India halted cross-border movement through the Attari-Wagah border and suspended most visas for Pakistani nationals. In response, Pakistan also suspended all SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas issued to Indian nationals — except those for Sikh pilgrims.
Earlier this year, a record 5,800 Indian Sikh pilgrims had visited Pakistani gurdwaras for Baisakhi, just days before the April attack.
