BJP, SAD hails Kartarpur corridor decision, terms it historic

BJP president Amit Shah and SAD chief Sukhbir Badal termed as "historic" the Union Cabinet's decision on Thursday to develop a corridor to facilitate Sikh pilgrims visiting Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan.

"I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for approving the historic Kartarpur Sahib corridor. This would greatly help pilgrims visiting Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan. The Modi govt has continuously strived to enrich India's rich religious diversity and this step further reinforces it," Shah tweeted.

Earlier in the day, the Union Cabinet chaired by Modi approved to build and develop a corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district to the International Border to facilitate Sikh pilgrims visiting Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib on the banks of the Ravi river in Pakistan.

Kartarpur Sahib, located just across the International Border, is the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev and one of the holiest shrines of Sikhs.

The decision was taken to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

Addressing a press conference here, the BJP's ally Shriomani Akali Dal (SAD) chief, flanked by his wife and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, said, "It's a historic day for the entire Sikh community and we would like to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Cabinet for this historic decision. This has been a wish of each and every Sikh for the last 70 years."