India makes last-ditch attempt for pilgrim visas

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 14

With two days to go for the finale of the Shahidi Jor Mela in memory of Guru Arjan Dev, India has asked Pakistan to immediately grant visa to 87 pilgrims to enable them visit Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore on the occasion.

While Pakistan had given visas to some pilgrims, it withheld permission to pilgrims on an official list submitted by the Indian Government.

Last year, in contrast pilgrims were taken by special trains to Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasanabdal near Taxila from where they went to Lahore’s Dera Sahib. The pilgrims were also permitted to visit Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib and Gurdwara Sacha Sauda in Farooqabad.

The Ministry of External Affairs reminded Islamabad that it was obliged to grants visa under the Indo-Pak Protocol on Visit to Religious Shrines, 1974.

The MEA expressed its concern at the disregard shown by the Pakistan High Commission for the religious sentiments and devotion of Indian pilgrims. It also protested against the High Commission unilaterally granting restrictive visa (by rail only) to a private group of Indian pilgrims.

Interestingly, the gathering at the Jor Mela in Lahore is usually addressed by Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee leader Gopal Singh Chawla. His inclusion in a Pakistani panel for Kartarpur corridor has triggered an Indian boycott of official level talks on the project. Till he acquired notoriety in public perception in India, Chawla shared the stage at the Shahidi Jor Mela at Gurdwara Dera Sahib with prominent Sikh leaders from India who would inaugurate the kar seva.