India slams Pakistan after it gazumps control of Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara; says 'reverse'

India has responded to media reports that PM Imran Khan-led Pakistan government has transferred manment and maintenance of Holy Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib away from  Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC). In a statement, MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava has said that his unilateral decision is highly condemnable, against spirit of Karatarpur Sahib corridor and religious sentiments of Sikh community.

'Highly condemnable, against spirit of Karatarpur Sahib corridor'

"Such actions expose reality of Pakistan government and its leership's tall claims of preserving and protecting rights and welfare of religious mirities communities. Pakistan is called upon to reverse its arbitrary decision to deprive Sikh mirity community its right to man affairs of Holy Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib," India said in a strong-worded statement. 

Pakistan Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) on vember 3 officially took away full control of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur in Punjab's Narowal District from Sikh Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee and gave it to Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), a Muslim body. ETPB mans religious properties and shrines of Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistan.

"Consequent upon approval of Project Manment Unit (PMU) Kartarpur Corridor by ECC of Cabinet, and ratified by Cabinet (conveyed by MoRA...dated 23.10.2020), competent authority has been pleased to establish Project Manment Unit (PMU), a self-financing body, for Manment and Maintenance of Gurdwara Dardar Sahib Kartarpur (GSK) under ministrative control of ETPB." official order by Government of Pakistan re.

It ded, "All officers/ official...are relieved from ir duties with immediate effect with directions to join ir new place of posting forthwith."

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Earlier on October 29, Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) h anunced that y will celebrate first anniversary of inauguration of historic Kartarpur Corridor on vember 9. However, Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) h distanced itself from PSGPC’s initiative, saying "it has t received any instructions to celebrate first anniversary of inauguration of corridor so far."

4-km long corridor links Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur in India to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan - final resting place of Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev. On vember 9, 2019, Prime Minister Imran Khan h formally inaugurated Kartarpur Corridor as part of commemoration of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak at a colourful ceremony.

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(With PTI inputs)