New Delhi, November 22: A day ahead of Gurparab, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday announced that the Central cabinet had approved building and development of Kartarpur Sahib corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to International Border. The corridor will be built with Central government's funding and will have all the modern amenities and facilities.

Briefing the media about the decision, the Union Minister said, "In landmark decision, Cabinet approves building & development of Kartarpur corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to International Border. Kartarpur corridor project with all modern amenities and facilities to be implemented with Central government funding." Kartarpur Sahib Corridor: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh Urges Sushma Swaraj to Take Up Issue With Pakistan

 

Adding more, he also said that the government will urge Government of Pakistan to reciprocate and develop a corridor with suitable facilities in their territory. He said, "The Kartarpur corridor will provide smooth & easy passage to pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib throughout the year. Government of Pakistan will be urged to reciprocate and develop a corridor with suitable facilities in their territory."

Soon after the Union Cabinet approved the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, the Ministry of External Affairs too approached and urged the Pakistan government to recognise the sentiments of Sikh community and build the corridor.

In the statement released by the MEA, it was said, “In keeping with resolution adopted by Cabinet today to commemorate 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev ji in 2019, we have approached and urged the Pakistan government to recognize the sentiments of Sikh community and build a corridor.”

Adding more, it said, “..with suitable facilities in their territory to facilitate easy and smooth visits of pilgrims from India to Kartarpur Sahib throughout the year. Government of India has already decided to build corridor from Dera Baba Nanak to International Border with all modern amenities on our side.”

It is to be known that the Kartarpur Sahib corridor was proposed by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1999, when he took a bus ride to Lahore. Recently the matter got significance after Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu - during his visit to Pakistan for Imran Khan swearing-in - had embraced that Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa offered to open a corridor to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur.

According to Sikh religious text, Kartarpur is the final resting place of Guru Nanak, the first guru of Sikhs. It is situated in Norowal district of Pakistani Punjab and stands at only three kilometres from the India-Pakistan border. Between the two countries, Ravi river flows. In India another highly respected Sikh shrine, Dera Baba Nanak is situated in Gurdaspur district of Punjab.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 22, 2018 12:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).