Pb Assembly passes resolution on opening of Kartarpur corridor

The Punjab Assembly unanimously passed a resolution today to press the Centre to pursue with Pakistan the opening of Kartarpur Sahib corridor for the 550th birthday celebration of Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh Guru.

The resolution was moved by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on the second day of the monsoon session of the assembly.

All House members were unanimous in their opinion that the opening of the corridor would enable Indian devotees to pay their obeisance at the historic gurdwara in Pakistan.

Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara, where Guru Nanak Dev spent his last years, is located across the international border, though it is visible from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district.

Moving the resolution, the chief minister informed the House that he had written to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to take up the issue with her Pakistani counterpart.

The opening of the corridor was a cherished dream of the Sikh community, Singh said.

Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who recently visited Islamabad for Imran Khan's swearing-in as prime minister, has said he had hugged Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa after he told him about the possibility of allowing pilgrims from Dera Baba Nanak to visit Kartarpur Sahib, separated by a distance of about three kilometres.

Sidhu was present in the Punjab Assembly today.

He has said the Pakistan Army chief told him they were making efforts to open the corridor.

This, Sidhu has said, was being done to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev next year.