Published 22:21 IST, November 7th 2019
'If I don't go, who will? My area, my home': Sunny Deol on Kartarpur
On Thursday, actor and BJP MP from Gurdaspur Sunny Deol confirmed that he would be visiting Pakistan for the inauguration of the Kartarpur corridor
On Thursday, actor and BJP MP from Gurdaspur Sunny Deol confirmed that he would be visiting Pakistan for the inauguration of the Kartarpur corridor. Speaking on his decision, Deol observed that the area in question was like his home. Earlier, the Punjab Chief Minister’s office announced that Deol would be part of the inaugural official ‘jatha’ to visit the Darbar Sahib gurudwara in Pakistan. While the delegation would be led by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, leaders such as former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri would also accompany him.
Pakistan's ploy condemned
Earlier in the day, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar reacted to Pakistan’s official video featuring pro-Khalistan separatist Bhindranwale and condemned Pakistan’s attempt in this regard. He contended that this violated the spirit under which the pilgrimage was going to be undertaken, moreover, stated that New Delhi had approached the opening of the Kartarpur corridor with an open mind as this involved the sentiments of the Sikh community. Kumar called upon Pakistan to stick to the spirit of the agreement. Furthermore, he demanded the removal of the objectionable video and other printed material, which was promoting anti-India propaganda.
Kartarpur corridor
The Kartarpur corridor connects Darbar Sahib Gurudwara in Kartarpur with the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab. While the foundation stone was laid last year on both the Indian and Pakistani sides, the project was initially stuck due to some disagreements such as Pakistan's decision to levy a hefty service charge of $20 on the pilgrims. The corridor will be inaugurated on November 9.
Updated 23:26 IST, November 7th 2019