Amritsar: As per the media reports despite the hurdles being faced from union ministry of external affairs a jatha of 300 Sikhs will leave for Pakistan to observe death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh on June 28th even as the Sikhs’ single largest representative body Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has cancelled its plan to send Sikh jatha to Pakistan.
Sikh Jatha Leaving For Pakistan. (File Photo).
President of Bhai Mardana Yadgari Kiratab Darbar Society Harpal Singh Bhullar reportedly said that Pakistan High Commission had issued more than 300 visas to Sikhs going to Pakistan in jatha’s sent by various Sikh bodies including Khalra Mission Committee, Nankana Sahib Sikh Yatree Jatha and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee.
It was claimed by the SGPC that the government of Pakistan has denied security cover to the Sikhs during the visit.
Earlier this month due to ongoing tension between the two countries the union government had declined to assist the SGPC for the process of visa application and has said that Sikh jatha could go to Pakistan at its own risk. SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar demanded that the matter should be taken up with Pakistan government at diplomatic level, said media reports.
According to programme chalked out by Evacuee Trust Property Board the bhog o Akhand Path will be performed on June 29th at Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore. The Sikh devotees will also visit other historical Sikh Gurdwaras before returning on july 7th.
Harpal Singh Bhuller further stated that the Society had demanded from Evacuee Trust Property Board, parent body of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, to allow Sikh devotees to visit memorial of Bhai Mani Singh situated inside Lahore Fort. He also informed that Society had taken up the issue of giving karsewa of Gurdwara Vidhan Khana, reports Times of India (ToI).