Kartarpur Row: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh Likens Fee on Pilgrims Proposed by Pakistan With 'Jizya', Seeks Withdrawal

New Delhi, September 19: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday compared Pakistan's proposed facilitation charges on visitors of the Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib as 'Jizya'. Jizya (Jazia) was a tax imposed historically on non-Muslims in Muslim country. Singh also demanded immediate withdrawal of the facilitation charges to the historic shrine. Kartarpur Corridor Construction Work on Indian Side to be Completed Before Time, Movement of People to Begin From November 11, Says MHA.

Giving an example of Emperor Akbar, Singh said that the controversial tax was abolished during his regime. He said that the proposed tax of $20 a visitor was against the Sikh ideology 'Khulle Darshan Deedar' of Gurudwara Sahib which became a part of Pakistan after partition. Kartarpur Corridor: How to Reach Dera Baba Nanak to Visit Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan From Various Cities of India.

Tweet by ANI:

Punjab Chief Minister on Thursday visited Dera Baba Nanak and reviewed the progress of development work of Kartarpur Corridor. The construction work is carried by NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) and Land Port Authority.

In November last year, India and Pakistan had agreed to set up the border-crossing linking Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur, the resting place of Sikh faith founder Guru Nanak Dev. The corridor will be opened to the general public in November on 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 19, 2019 05:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).