Sidhu writes second letter to MEA, seeks permission to visit Pak for Kartarpur ceremony

Former Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Wednesday sought permission from the External Affairs Ministry for the second time to attend the inaugural ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor in Pakistan on November 9.

In a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Sidhu said he had been invited by the Pakistan government for the opening ceremony of the corridor, which will connect Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district in Punjab.

"Given that the invite has come, copy of which is already submitted, the programme is crystal clear. I humbly submit for the permission to crossover from the corridor in the morning before 9.30 am on November 9 to be in time for the inauguration slated at 11.00 am.

"I would first like to meditate at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib (Kartarpur) for the Shukrana (thanksgiving) on Babaji's glory and grace, have 'langar' with Sangat as a humble Sikh, attend the inauguration ceremony and come back by evening through the corridor," Sidhu wrote.

He further wrote, "However, if it is not possible then I would go to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib (Kartarpur Sahib) through the Wagah Border one day before i.e on Nov 8, stay overnight at Gurdwara Sahib, attend the ceremony and come back next day on Nov 9 through the corridor."
In his first letter to Jaishankar, Sidhu, Congress MLA from Amritsar East, had said, "As a humble Sikh, it shall be a great honour to pay obeisance to our great Guru Baba Nanak on this historic occasion and connect to our roots."