Navjot Singh Sidhu, Congress writes to EAM, S Jaishankar again, Requesting Permission to Attend Kartarpur Corridor Inauguration

New Delhi: Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu has written a third letter to the Ministry of External Affairs in which he has asked for permission to attend the inauguration ceremony of Kartarpur Corridor. Sidhu wrote in his letter that despite repeated reminders, you did not reply to me whether the government has allowed me to attend the inauguration or not. Significantly, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has sent an invitation to Navjot Singh Sidhu. However, the government has also allowed Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu to accompany the group but has not yet been allowed to visit Pakistan.

Navjot Singh Sidhu, Congress writes to EAM, S Jaishankar again, requesting permission to attend #KartarpurCorridor inauguration. Letter states,"Despite repeated reminders you haven't responded to whether or not the govt has granted me permission to go to Pak for the inauguration" pic.twitter.com/HUR9qO6A5b

— ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2019

Sidhu wrote in his letter, “I want to tell clearly that if the government has any problem and does not approve me then I will not go. But if you do not reply to my third letter, then I will accompany Pakistan to Sikh devotees.” would go.” Earlier on Wednesday, Sidhu sought permission to attend the opening ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor for the second time.

And in Amritsar, posters with Sidhu and Imran appear.

I have always said that Pakistan wants the Kartarpur corridor not for Sikh pilgrims but for re-starting Khalistani terrorism in Punjab. In Sidhu they have found the perfect Mir Jafar. Now, India needs another KPS Gill. pic.twitter.com/xg9sjJgUeK

— Major Gaurav Arya (Retd) (@majorgauravarya) November 5, 2019

Sidhu unlikely to go with first batch

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Kartarpur Corridor on 9 November. After the inauguration of the corridor, the first batch will leave for Darshan at Gurdwara Shri Kartarpur Gurdwara Sahib. This first batch will include 670 devotees. In this first batch, former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Chief Minister of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh and a large number of MLAs and ministers will go. Sources say that Sidhu will not go to the first batch.

Passport compulsory to visit Kartarpur

On the other hand, the Pakistani Army has made passports mandatory for Indian devotees. Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said that passports would be necessary for Indian pilgrims coming to Kartarpur Corridor. Earlier, Pakistan PM Imran Khan had said that Indians coming to Kartarpur will not need passports, but the Pakistani army has refused to accept Imran’s decision to passport exemption.

The Kartarpur Corridor is going to open on the 550th Prakash Parv of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The first batch consists of 150 MPs, including many ministers. Earlier, India had warned Pakistan that during the Kartarpur visit, no anti-India activity would be tolerated. Home Minister Amit Shah shared a video on Twitter, calling it a historic achievement. Shah has tweeted that this will be a memorable moment for Sikh devotees.