imran khan gives control of Kartarpur Gurdwara Sahib to Muslim body

[Premi5 2,195]

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2326183/modi-doesnt-budge-on-kartarpur

Modi doesn't budge on Kartarpur

Indian side of the corridor has remained shut despite Pakistan’s leniency in allowing Sikhs to visit

---

Asif MehmoodOctober 24, 2021

LAHORE:

Neighboring India has left no stone unturned in exposing its lack of commitment to its constitutional commitment of religious freedom and the government’s stubbornness in allowing its Sikh population to use the Kartarpur Corridor is further proof.

Since its inauguration ceremony nearly 2 years ago, the visa-free border crossing has mostly remained closed owing to Covid-related travel restrictions. However, even when the Pakistani government has shown leniency, to allow Sikhs from across the border to visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib using the corridor, the Narendra Modi administration has not reciprocated it. Most recently, on the death anniversary of Guru Nanak arrangements were made for Sikhs who wanted to attend the three-day rituals taking place at Kartarpur but Pakistan’s counterpart kept mum on if they would open their side of the corridor.

Now with the birth anniversary celebrations of Sikhism’s founder on the horizon, Guru Nanak’s devotees residing in India see no hope of being able to attend and pay their respects which forms an integral part of their religion. Sardar Jinderpal Singh, who resides in Amritsar, a city in Indian Punjab, told the Express Tribune that he has been trying for months to come to Pakistan to just get a glimpse of the Gurdwara but he has been consistently shunned.

“I contact the Shiromani Committee and the immigration officials of Kartarpur Corridor regularly to inquire about the reopening. Not soon, is all I get in reply,” Jinderpal informed over a telephonic interview.

Purposefully curtailing Sikhs like Jinderpal from performing their religious rites ties into the Modi administration's conservative agenda of making India a Hindu state, a fact which weighs heavily on the community. “We got access to our holy site after 72 years of prayers and now the Indian government is actively avoiding its responsibility of opening the corridor when it has relaxed every other superspreader related restriction,” an irate Rajinder Singh Ruby said. Rajinder, who is the manager of the Golden Temple, a Sikh holy site in Amritsar, is amongst a significant number of people who believe that India is ruining a symbol of peace by rejecting Pakistan’s consistent attempts at accommodating Sikhs to perform their religious obligations.

These beliefs do not come as a surprise owing to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) stance of isolating Pakistan whether it is through targeted disinformation campaigns or malignment at international forums vis-a-vis Kashmir.

Read Sikhs for Justice releases new map of Khalistan

Sardar Amar Singh, Head of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, who is also overseeing the arrangements for the birth anniversary, while talking to the Express Tribune said, “our government has reopened the corridor before as well but it seems like our Indian counterparts are bent on not letting us reunite with our families across the border.” This hostile attitude by the far-right government against its Sikh population was first seen at the infamous farmer’s protest held in India earlier during the year in which aided by its supporters Sikhs were demonised and labeled as separatists working for Pakistan.

Despite being pitted against their countrymen by their own ruling administration’s nationalist ideology, Sikhs like Ramesh Singh are hopeful of a miracle. “I pray daily that the Modi administration listens to our pleas and reopens the corridor so that my wife and I can fulfill our lifelong wish of visiting the holy land that Guru once used to walk on,” Ramesh told the Express Tribune.

Separate arrangements

While the Pakistani government might not be able to fulfill Ramesh’s wishes for the corridor being open from the Indian side, it has made separate arrangements to ensure that at least some Sikhs can still be a part of the celebrations.

The government will issue 10-day visas for up to 3,000 pilgrims from across the globe including those across the border. Sikhs from India will be allowed to enter through the Wagah border and will then be taken to the Nankana Sahib. After attending the main function on November 19, pilgrims will be given tours to other Gurduwaras across the country.

[chatanga1 209]

On 11/6/2020 at 4:27 PM, Ranjeet01 said:

Hindus and Muslims understand power and politics. 

We don't.

 

Power politics is in the hands of the majority.

Power is in the hand of the sword holder.

[Ranjeet01 2,866]

10 hours ago, chatanga1 said:

 

Power politics is in the hands of the majority.

Power is in the hand of the sword holder.

Power is indeed held by the one who can commit the most violence. 

However, even in a majority, the power is held by a particular minority.

[Premi5 2,195]

https://ommcomnews.com/india-news/offensive-photo-shoot-at-kartarpur-annoys-sikh-community

Offensive Photo Shoot At Kartarpur Annoys Sikh Community

 

Offensive Photo Shoot At Kartarpur Annoys Sikh Community

By OMMCOM NEWS On Nov 29, 2021

 

 Share

New Delhi:  A clothing brand recently came under fire after an alleged photo shoot at the Kartarpur Gurdwara in Pakistan. In the shoot, a Lahore-based model can be seen bareheaded, posing for the camera, compromising the sanctity of the place, Express Tribune reported.

Pakistan Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and members of the Sikh community expressed annoyance over the fashion photoshoot at the Kartarpur shrine, Pakistan Observer reported.

Chaudhry slammed the designer and the model for the photoshoot.

“The Designer and the model must apologise to Sikh Community #KartarPurSahib is a religious symbol and not a Film set,” he wrote on Twitter.

Manjinder Singh Sirsa, the President of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management committee, also condemned the act, calling it “desecration”.

“Pakistan court issued arrest warrant of star who did dance video at Mosque; same must be done against this woman from Lahore as an example of treating all religion at par.”

“Otherwise, any talk of respect for Sikhism is hollow,” he said.

In another tweet, Sirsa commented: “Such behaviour and act at the pious place of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is totally unacceptable! Can she dare to do the same at her religious place in Pakistan? Imran Khan and the government of Pakistan should take immediate action to stop this trend of treating Sri Kartarpur Sahib as a picnic spot by Pakistani people.”

Meanwhile, the clothing brand, Mannat, has issued a clarification on the matter. The Instagram page has since removed the controversial posts and released a statement, the report said.

“The pictures posted on our accounts are NOT part of any shoot done by Mannat Clothing. These pictures were provided to us by a third-party (blogger) in which they were wearing our dress. Please note that Mannat has absolutely NO role in deciding how and where the pictures were taken,” the statement read.

“However, we accept our mistake that we should not have posted this content and we apologise to every single person who was offended by this. All the holy places are very sacred to us.”

“The pictures and posts have been removed from all our media channels. Again, we apologise wholeheartedly for hurting the public sentiment. Believe us when we say we had no such intention.”

On the other hand, Pakistan Punjab Police in a statement said that they are investigating all aspects related to this incident and strict legal action will be taken against those responsible.

“Management of the concerned brand & model are being investigated. Worship places of all religions are equally respectable,” reads the statement, as per the report.

[GurjantGnostic 3,028]

7 hours ago, Premi5 said:

“The pictures posted on our accounts are NOT part of any shoot done by Mannat Clothing.

I read that as Manmat clothing, and it didn't even phase me at first, then I was like...wait a second ..