Wagah shocker: Pakistan allows Sikh jatha for Nankana Sahib, bars Hindus; India calls move discriminatory | Chandigarh News

Pakistan allows Sikh jatha for Nankana Sahib, bars Hindus

ATTARI: The first Sikh jatha since Op Sindoor travelled to Pakistan on Tuesday for the Parkash Utsav (birth anniversary) of Guru Nanak Dev, but the joy was clouded by Pakistan’s refusal to allow Hindus across the border.The Hindus had completed all immigration and travel formalities at Wagah border when they were stopped and turned back. Indian officials called it a shocking and unprecedented move by Pakistan authorities.This discriminatory action — separating Hindus from Sikhs moments before boarding the special bus to Nankana Sahib — is seen as a deliberate attempt by Islamabad to create divisions between the two communities following Operation Sindoor.The pilgrims’ travel documents mention their religion and this is how Pakistan authorities singled out Hindus from the group and turned them away.The Hindu devotees had planned to pay obeisance at historic Sikh shrines in Pakistan on the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism. But they had to return dejected.Among them was Amar Chand, a devotee from Delhi who had travelled with seven family members, including four women. Heartbroken, he said they crossed the Attari international border, reached Wagah on the Pakistan side, completed all immigration procedures, and even bought tickets for the special bus. Just as they were about to board, the Pak authorities stopped them.“Pakistani officials told us, ‘You are Hindu, you can’t go with the Sikh jatha’,” he said. Amar and his family were compelled to walk back to the Indian side, humiliated and devastated. Another group of seven from Lucknow was also turned back.An intelligence officer, who interacted with the Hindu devotees who were forced to return, said, “This is unprecedented. Pakistan could repeat such actions in the future , even against devotees traveling to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib, via Kartarpur Corridor.”The Kartarpur Corridor has remained closed since Operation Sindoor, and Sikhs demand its reopening — a demand reiterated by those who travelled to Pakistan on Tuesday.More than 2,100 pilgrims were granted visas by Pakistan’s high commission for the 10-day pilgrimage, but 1,796 devotees could cross over. Over 300 were held back on the Indian side as they had not adhered to protocol while applying for visa. The barred devotees staged a protest at the international border, but had to return home, disappointed.The others reached Lahore where they were accorded a warm welcome by Pakistan’s Punjab province minister Ramesh Singh Arora and senior officials of the Pakistan Evacuee Trust Board.