Published 23:22 IST, October 24th 2019
Pakistan will eventually waive $20 Kartarpur fee: CM Captain Amarinder
Punjab CM Captain Amarinder said that Pakistan will eventually waive the twenty-dollar fee imposed on the pilgrims from India visiting Sri Kartarpur Sahib
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Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday expressed hope that Pakistan will eventually waive the twenty-dollar fee imposed on the pilgrims from India visiting Sri Kartarpur Sahib. It was earlier reported that Pakistan had planned to levy a tax on devotees from the Sikh community visiting the Kartarpur Corridor from India. India and Pakistan had both agreed on visa-free travel to the Kartarpur Corridor.
"Pakistan will eventually understand the Sikh sentiment and tradition, which bars the community from paying to visit gurdwaras and temples, and will, in due course, waive off the $20 fee imposed on Indian pilgrims visiting Sri Kartarpur Sahib," the Punjab CM said.
The Chief Minister had also earlier appealed to the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to withdraw the $20 fees imposed by the Pakistan Government on pilgrims visiting Kartarpur Sahib. He also asked Imran Khan to facilitate 'khulle darshan deedar’ of the Kartarpur Sahib.
I appeal to @ImranKhanPTI to withdraw $20 fee imposed by @pid_gov on pilgrims to Kartarpur Sahib to faciliate ‘khulle darshan deedar’ of the final resting place of SRI Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The world Sikh community will be grateful to you for this gesture.
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) October 18, 2019
Talking to media persons, he welcomed the signing of the agreement for the opening of the Kartarpur corridor between India and Pakistan, which permits 5,000 pilgrims to visit the historic gurdwara every day, from the sunrise to the sunset either in groups or individually.
Only a Passport would be required as an identification document, with no visa needed for the visit adding that Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders would also be allowed to visit the gurdwara via the corridor, which pilgrims can also travel on foot.
Harsimrat Kaur Badal Criticises Pak
Akali Dal leader and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal has slammed Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his government for charging a service fee of 20 US Dollars from Pilgrims who will be visiting the Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara through the Kartarpur Corridor which is set to open in November. The Minister has alleged that Pakistan has made a business out of people's faith. Kaur also said Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's statements on the fee are atrocious.
The $20 fee each charged by Pak for #KartarpurSahib darshan is atrocious. How will a poor devotee pay this amount? Pakistan has made a business out of faith. @ImranKhanPTI's statement that this fee will boost Pak's economy & result in earning foreign exchange is highly shameful. pic.twitter.com/a0sidEDIPZ
— Harsimrat Kaur Badal (@HarsimratBadal_) October 20, 2019
(With Inputs from ANI)
22:03 IST, October 24th 2019