New Delhi, November 22: The Union Cabinet's decision to clear the Kartarpur corridor till the Pakistan border drew applause from BJP ally Shiromani Akali Dal, as well as the Opposition Congress. Leaders from the both parties in Punjab have now appealed the Imran Khan government across the border, as the ball is in his court to fulfill a seven-decade-old demand of the Sikh community.

"I welcome this auspicious step by the Union Cabinet, it will be a cup of joy for 12 Crore ‘Nanak Naam Laivas.’ It will build bridges, burn animosity and will act like a soothing balm for two neighbouring countries," said Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Sidhu, who is a Minister in the Punjab government, had issued multiple appeals to the recently elected Pakistani government seeking the opening-up of Kartarpur route.

In August, when Sidhu attended the swearing-in ceremony of Imran Khan, he was assured by Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa that Islamabad is willing to open-up the Kartarpur route to deepen the bilateral ties.

Sidhu on Thursday again  reached out to Khan via Twitter, asking him to connect the remainder of the Kartarpur route -- from the Indo-Pak border to the Kartarpur Sahib shrine, where Guru Nanak Dev lived for 18 years.

"I humbly request the Government of India to dispense their duty towards 12 Crore ‘Nanak Naam Laivas’ world over, by writing to the Pakistan Government. I hope the draft for the letter is ready as promised by Hon’ble EAM Sushma Ji," he added.

Union Minister and senior Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal credited the "persistent efforts" taken by her party to ensure the Kartarpur corridor is finally cleared.

"We used to pray for 'Khule Darshan Deedar' of those Gurdhaam which have been separated from us. Today, the Cabinet of Indian Govt has given green signal to opening of Kartarpur corridor . Every Sikh in India is awaiting for similar gesture now from Pakistan (sic)," she added.

Her husband and former Punjab deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal took a political potshot at rival Navjot Singh Sidhu, charging him of unduly claiming credit. "Who is Sidhu? Sidhu doesn't have any role in it," he added.

The announcement on Kartarpur corridor was issued today by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, along with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. While addressing the press, the two leaders said the corridor -- stretching from Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur to Kartarpur on the other side of the border -- will be functional in October 2019, when the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev will be celebrated.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 22, 2018 03:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).