UK House of Lords member Baron Ranger speaks on Kartarpur Controversy

In an exclusive interview with Republic TV, Lord Baron Ranger said that Kartarpur Corridor should be called the 'corridor of peace' and Pakistan should not use it for politics. The Government of India, he said, has put a lot of effort into providing people an opportunity to visit the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev. However, the government of Pakistan by showing controversial people in their video on Kartarpur have only shown their poor judgement.

Lord Baron Ranger on the opening of Kartarpur corridor

Lord Ranger, who is in India to attend the Kartarpur Corridor opening called himself “fortunate” to be a part of a “historic event” for which people in general and the Sikh Community, in particular, have been waiting for long. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made huge efforts in bringing the Indian community based abroad together. But there are people who want to drive a wedge and mislead young people based in various parts of the world, especially from the Sikh community.

Read: Kartarpur Corridor: Booking, how to apply and online registration

'Ground reality in Inda'

Lord Ranger who is also the chairman of the British Sikh Association, condemned the movement for Khalistan and claimed that those supporting the move do not want to see the community flourish. “People live in the US, Canada, hold their passports and talk about the rights of people in India. They talk nonsense. If they are concerned about the community, they should come to India first and then see what the ground reality is,” he said.

Read: Amit Shah: 'Generations will remember Kartarpur Corridor achievement'

Ranger cautions Pak

He also cautioned Pakistan for their support to anti-India elements and asked them to 'analyse what India has to offer them compared to insurgents'. “India is a country of opportunities with huge potential. The world is interested in India; hence, Pakistan - whose economy has collapsed and the US is no longer providing financial aid the way they used to – should understand the potential of better relations with India,” he asserted.

Read: Government releases a video on the opening of the Kartarpur corridor

Dr. Rami Ranger who was recently appointed as a Member of the House of Lords also condemned the attacks on Indian High Commission in London. He said that vandalising the Indian High Commission is a reflection of the leadership of those resorting to the act. “As they say, a country or society is as good as their leadership”, and “the people who do these things are bringing a bad name to their own country” without considering what the “host country” would think about them.

The Kartarpur Corridor opening is scheduled for 9 November 2019.

Read: Kartarpur corridor: Pakistan briefs foreign diplomats ahead of the opening