Sirsa slams Sidhu over Kartarpur: 'Would not go from Pakistan's side'

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Thursday called out Navjot Singh Sidhu of the Congress party on Thursday. The slamming from Sirsa comes after the former Indian Cricketer and Congress party leader had asked for permission to participate in the inaugural ceremony of Kartarpur Corridor. Pakistan had earlier sent an invitation to Sidhu to attend the opening.

"Navjot Singh Sidhu has his own thinking. Dr. Manmohan who is a Sikh said that he will go there from India's side. Had Pakistan invited us, we would go there but from India's side. We would not go from Pakistan's side because we have to care of our religion and the country's dignity," Sirsa stated in his response when asked about Pakistan giving a visa to Sidhu.

Sirsa also slammed Pakistan after it made a passport compulsory for visiting the Kartarpur Corridor. "Pakistan is not clearing its stand. Earlier it had said that there would be no need of a passport. In Pakistan, there is no clarity whose order will be followed whether it is Imran Khan or Pakistan Army chief, the latter has a different aim. We regret that a peaceful environment is being dragged into the controversy. We request that Pakistan should offer us the convenience to help devotee visiting the Gurudwara on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji," he said.

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Formal Invitation from Pakistan

Navjot Singh Sidhu had received a formal invite from Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor in Pakistan on November 9. Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Dr. Mohammad Faisal had stated that Pakistan will issue a visa to Navjot Singh Sidhu. 

Earlier today, Sidhu had written a third letter to External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and has asked the foreign affairs minister to at least reply to the previously sent letters. He had also written to Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.

Navjot Singh Sidhu had also attended the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor project. He has not been included in the official delegation of the Congress party, which will be visiting the gurdwara in Pakistan on November 9. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the corridor from the Indian side while Imran Khan will open the route from the Pakistan side.

The Kartarpur Corridor project of India-Pakistan will connect the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab's Gurdaspur district with Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara (in Pakistan) where the Sikh Guru Guru Nanak had breathed his last. 

India-Pakistan agreement on Kartarpur 

Indian pilgrims of all faiths and persons of Indian origin can use the corridor and the travel will be visa-free. However, each visitor would be required to pay a fee of USD 20. India had requested Pakistan not to charge the Indian pilgrims but Pakistan refused to waive the fee. India and Pakistan signed the agreement on October 23. 

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(With inputs from ANI)