AMRITSAR SAHIB—To observe the Shaheedi Gurpurab (martyrdom day) of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji as per the original Nanakshahi Calender date of June 16th, a jatha of Sikh pilgrims left for Pakistan via the Atari-Wahga border. The Jatha included 281 members, none sponsored by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) or the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) .
Neither of these organizations were willing to send Sikh pilgrims as per the original Nanakshahi calendar. Khalra Mission Organization, and some other Sikh organizationso were here to see off the Sikhs. It was alleged that with the help of some leaders of Pakistan, representatives of both the Gurdwara Committees played dirty tricks, attempting to prevent the Sikhs from visiting their holy shrines in Pakistan.
It should be noted that the Gurdwara committees have not put in any efforts to help the pilgrims. Elderly pilgrims have to face many difficulties carrying luggage due to very hot weather. The Jatha that departed for the pilgrimage was sponsored by Khalra Mission Organization, Nanakana Sahib Yatri Jatha, Akali Dal (Sarna Group), and Bhai Mardana Memorial Committee. S. Santokh Singh, Hardev Singh, and Darshan Singh who are the leaders of the Jatha, said that the Jatha would visit Sri Nanakana Sahib first, and after resting there, would leave for Gurdwara Panja Sahib on June 11th.
They said after paying obeisance in Panja Sahib, the jatha would return to Lahore and stay at Gurdwara Dehra Sahib until June 16th. After observing the Shaheedi Gurpurab, the jatha will come back on June 17th.
Khalra Mission Organization leader Balwinder Singh Jhabal said that with the help of Mastaan Singh former president of Pakistan Gurdwara Committee, and Sikh politician Ramesh Singh Arora, both the committees caused delays in passing the visa and did not allow the jatha to enter the train which was sent by Pakistani government into India to transport the pilgrims. He said the Sikh devotees would never forgive them.
