ISLAMABAD, April 13: Indian parliamentarian has called upon the governments of Pakistan and India to defuse the prevailing tension on borders of the two countries.
Criticizing the Indian government’s decision to stop Sikh community from attending the Baisakhi festival, Simran Jit Singh said, “it is against the established norms to stop the followers of any religion from visiting its sacred places.”
Talking to Dawn Mr Singh, a member of Lok Sabha and President of Sheromani Akali Dal, who is at present visiting Gurdwara Punja Sahib, Hassanabdal, lauded the efforts made by the Pakistan government in order to facilitate Sikh pilgrims to attend Baisakhi every year.
“We were seven people who were stopped on the border by the Indian army.” he said adding “I’m the only one who was allowed to enter Pakistan.”
Recalling one of the clauses of Nehru-Liaqat Pact signed in 1949 which permitted Sikhs to visit Pakistan four times a year, he said unfortunately, the right was being denied to by the Indian government due to the tension on the borders.
Simran Jit Singh said there were four occasions during the year when Sikhs from all across the world visited Pakistan on the occasions of Baisakhi, Guru Nanak’s birthday, Gurd wara wada singh mela, and Maharaja Ranjeet Singh’s death anniversary.
