Amritsar, August 1: In response to official parliamentary disclosures regarding the continued suspension of the Kartarpur Corridor, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has called upon the Union government to promptly re-evaluate its decision. SGPC chief Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami declared that the historic passage serves as a vital spiritual link, urging authorities to implement necessary safeguards rather than maintaining a complete halt on pilgrimage access.
The appeal comes in the wake of Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh’s declaration in Parliament confirming that the Centre currently has no plans to reopen the visa-free corridor to Pakistan. The religious body emphasized that the shrine marks the land where Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji spent his concluding years establishing foundational Sikh teachings.
Acknowledging sovereign safety duties, Dhami declared, “National security remains a priority, but these requirements can be adequately managed through robust arrangements without curtailing the religious rights of pilgrims.” Underscoring the broader social impact of the passage, he stated, “The Kartarpur Corridor acts as a bridge of goodwill between the people of India and Pakistan, and its religious and humanitarian significance must be recognized.”
The SGPC maintained that the ongoing closure causes deep distress to the faithful across the world who wish to perform pilgrimage at the sacred site. The committee called on the Centre to review operational frameworks, put administrative safeguards in place, and restore access to Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib at the earliest.
