Kartarpur corridor to reopen, Punjab leaders thank Modi

THE Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, the way to Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan, a top attraction for tourists and Sikh devotees, will reopen on Wednesday (17), two days before the 552nd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.

Indian home minister Amit Shah confirmed the news in a tweet on Tuesday (16), saying the decision will benefit a number of Sikh pilgrims. The Narendra Modi government had blamed the neighbouring country for not reopening the 4.4-kilometre corridor, which has remained shut for more than a year now.

“In a major decision, that will benefit large numbers of Sikh pilgrims, PM @Narendramodi govt has decided to re-open the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor from tomorrow, Nov 17. This decision reflects the immense reverence of Modi govt towards Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and our Sikh community,” Shah said in his tweet.

A number of leaders from the northern Indian state of Punjab, including chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, state chief of the opposition Indian National Congress Navjot Singh Sidhu and former chief minister and currently the leader of Punjab Lok Congress Captain Amarinder Singh had requested New Delhi to reopen the corridor before the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.

Both Sidhu and Captain Singh tweeted their requests to the Indian government to reopen the corridor.

“I urge Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji to open the Kartarpur Corridor before Nov 19, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, so that people can pay obeisance at the holy shrine on this sacred occasion,” Captain Singh tweeted.

“I urge GOI to reopen Kartarpur Corridor, to create a new Darshan Asthan for khule darshan didar for all and to cancel the 3 farm laws on Shri Guru Nanak's Gurpurab, as its a day for reflection, rediscovery and reiteration of Gurus message of peace, harmony & universal brotherhood,” Sidhu said in his tweet.

The duo were also among the first to welcome the news of the corridor’s reopening. While Captain Singh called the move a "timely opening" and expressed his gratitude to Modi, Sidhu called the decision a "welcome step".

Channi also welcomed the central government's decision.

Movement on the Kartarpur corridor was suspended in March last year when Pakistan restricted travel from India after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Islamabad later expressed its willingness to reopen the border on June 27 last year. Thereafter, it said it would reopen the corridor on October 3.

Punjab is set to go to elections in early 2022.