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Pak Sikh body for more pilgrims from India
Lahore, Apr 22: The body which manages Sikh gurudwaras in Pakistan has urged the Indian government not to restrict the size of Sikh pilgrims who wish to visit the holy shrines in the country.
Lahore, Apr 22: The body which manages Sikh gurudwaras in Pakistan has urged the Indian government not to restrict the size of Sikh pilgrims who wish to visit the holy shrines in the country.
"Such restrictions hurt the Sikh sentiments, as most of the pious and historic Sikh Gurdwara are located in Pakistan," said Sham Singh, co-chairman of Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PGPC).
The Sikh 'Jatha' in which Sikhs from across the world converge in Pakistan to celebrate Baishakhi, had only 100 Indian members this year, as against 3000 in the past.
Singh noted that Pakistan government never objected to the frequent visits of the Sikh pilgrims from India to the Pak-based Sikh shrines, which include the birthplace of the first Sikh Guru Nanak.
"Pakistan government never imposed any such restriction over the size of the 'Jatha', Pak-based Muslims have great regards for Sikhs, so there is no reason for the Indian government in restricting the size of the Jatha," he said.
Singh also said that no separate Nanakshashi calendar has been issued by the PGPC.
"I do have deep regards for the highest Sikh temporal seat Akal Takht, Amritsar, and its each directive keeps special significance to me," he said adding that the Nanakshashi calendar issued from the Akal Takht Jatehdar Gyani Joginder Singh is "acceptable to PGPC in toto."
"The calendar issued by the PGPC is nothing but an old Bikrimi calendar showing the portraits of the improved structure of the gurdwaras situated in Pakistan," he said adding that the Akal Takht calender was widely welcomed and revered at the Baisakhi celebrations in Pakistan.
Bureau Report
The Sikh 'Jatha' in which Sikhs from across the world converge in Pakistan to celebrate Baishakhi, had only 100 Indian members this year, as against 3000 in the past.
Singh noted that Pakistan government never objected to the frequent visits of the Sikh pilgrims from India to the Pak-based Sikh shrines, which include the birthplace of the first Sikh Guru Nanak.
"Pakistan government never imposed any such restriction over the size of the 'Jatha', Pak-based Muslims have great regards for Sikhs, so there is no reason for the Indian government in restricting the size of the Jatha," he said.
Singh also said that no separate Nanakshashi calendar has been issued by the PGPC.
"I do have deep regards for the highest Sikh temporal seat Akal Takht, Amritsar, and its each directive keeps special significance to me," he said adding that the Nanakshashi calendar issued from the Akal Takht Jatehdar Gyani Joginder Singh is "acceptable to PGPC in toto."
"The calendar issued by the PGPC is nothing but an old Bikrimi calendar showing the portraits of the improved structure of the gurdwaras situated in Pakistan," he said adding that the Akal Takht calender was widely welcomed and revered at the Baisakhi celebrations in Pakistan.
Bureau Report