Published 14:53 IST, November 8th 2019
Pak's new low before Kartarpur inauguration: $20 charge from Day 1
Ahead of the inauguration of the Kartarpur Corridor on Nov 9, Pakistan has decided to charge $20 from every pilgrim even on inauguration day, as per sources
Ahead of the inauguration of the Kartarpur Corridor on November 9, Pakistan has decided to charge $20 from every pilgrim even on inauguration day, as per sources. This comes after Pakistan levied a $20 fee imposed on pilgrims from India. However, after India's objection, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan decided to not charge the fee on the inauguration day as well as on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. Now, sources have said that Pakistan has gone back on its word.
PM to inaugurate Integrated Check Post of the Kartarpur Corridor
The MEA informed on Thursday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi shall inaugurate the Integrated Check Post of the Kartarpur Corridor at Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdaspur in Punjab on the 9th of November 2019. "Prime Minister, shall, prior to this, pay obeisance at Ber Sahib Gurudwara at Sultanpur Lodhi. Later, Prime Minister shall participate in public programme at Dera Baba Nanak. The inauguration of the ICP check post would facilitate, Indian Pilgrims to visit to Gurudwara Kartapur Sahib in Pakistan. India has signed the agreement with Pakistan on the 24th of October 2019 on the modalities for operationalisation of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor at Zero Point, International Boundary, Dera Baba Nanak," MEA statement added.
Kartarpur corridor
The Kartarpur corridor, which is set to be inaugurated on November 9 in both India and Pakistan, will connect the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Punjab with Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur, Pakistan. Nearly 5000 pilgrims from India shall be able to visit Kartarpur daily at a time when the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak is being commemorated, on November 12. While the foundation stone for the same was laid on both sides of the border towards the end of 2018, the agreement between India and Pakistan was stuck for a time owing to the latter’s insistence on charging $20 per pilgrim.
Pakistan pushes Khalistani narrative
Yet another controversy emerged earlier this week when Pakistan released an official video for the Kartarpur corridor which featured the photos of the pro-Khalistan separatists Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Amrik Singh Khalsa and Major General Shabeg Singh in the background. The video shows pilgrims heading to Pakistan to visit the Nankana Sahib Gurudwara. It also features the posters of the aforesaid leaders pinned to the side of a building. Pakistan has released two more videos featuring clips of devotees, with the 'Khalistan 2020' poster in the background.
Updated 16:28 IST, November 8th 2019