549th Birthday Celebrations: Pakistan Grants Visa to 1227 Sikh Devotees, 403 Rejected

CHANDIGARH, Punjab—The Pakistani High Commission has granted visa to 1227 Sikh devotees out of the total 1630 aspirant of celebrating the 549^th birthday of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Nankana Sahib while visa applications of 403 others have been rejected. It is learnt that the Sikh Jatha will depart for Pakistan tomorrow.  

Sharing the development with media, the SGPC’s chief secretary Dr. Roop Singh said that the Pakistani consulate has hurt the Sikh sentiments by rejecting the visas of Sikh devotees in large number. He added that the Pakistan government should increase the visa quota for the Sikhs residing in India keeping in view the upcoming 550^th birthday celebrations of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. “Sikh pilgrims can collect their passports from the SGPC’s headquarter at Amritsar Sahib on November 20” he informed.

Dr. Roop Singh further informed that the Sikh pilgrims will reach at Gurdwara Sri Nankana Sahib on November 21 and will pay obeisance at Gurdwara Sacha Sauda, Mandi Chuhadkana on November 22. “After celebrating the 549^th birthday at Gurdwara Sri Nankana Sahib on November 23, the Sikh pilgrims will have glimpses of various other historic Sikh shrines in Pakistan and will come back to India on November 30″ he added.

“SGPC members Amarjit Singh Bhalaipur and Bibi Swarn Kaur will head the Sikh pilgrims this year, while Incharge Karanjit Singh will manage the administrative affairs of the Sikh pilgrims” he said.