'Narendra Modi has been a great friend to us': US Sikh community hails Centre's decision to build Kartarpur Corridor

Washington: Sikhs in America have hailed the Indian government’s decision to build a religious corridor linking border district of Gurdaspur with historic Kartarpur Sahib gurudwara in Pakistan — fulfilling a long pending demand of the community. [caption id=“attachment_5613121” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters[/caption] Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan is located across the river Ravi, about four kilometres from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district. It was established by the Sikh Guru in 1522. The first Gurdwara, Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, was built here, where Guru Nanak Dev is said to have died. Both India and Pakistan have announced that stretches would be developed in their respective areas. “The Indian government’s decision to develop and open the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor is historic,” Jasdip Singh, the chairman of the Sikhs of America, said during his meeting with visiting Union Minister of State for External Affairs Gen (retd.) VK Singh. A delegation of eminent Sikh of America led by Jasdip Singh on Saturday met the minister in Washington. “From the very first day after coming to power, the prime minister has not only been sympathetic to the concerns of the Sikh community but has also acted to address all our concerns,” he said. Welcoming the decision, Gurinder Singh Khalsa, a community leader, said that this is just a beginning for the greater good of the region and the humanity. “Incarnation of God, Guru Nanak became corridor between Hindus and Muslims, rich and poor, Pundits and Dalits during the most troubled times. I am a firm believer that now again after 550 years, with the grace of almighty, Kartarpur (town of God) corridor will be a pathway for sustainable peace between the two countries of India and Pakistan,” Khalsa said. “This is a historic decision,” said Adapa Prasad, vice president of Overseas Friends of BJP. The decision regarding construction of the Sikh corridor has the potential to kick-off peace between India and Pakistan. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been a great friend of the Sikhs. This was one of our long pending decision,” said Puneet Ahluwalia, a Republican leader from Virginia. In a memorandum submitted to the visiting minister, Sikhs of America organisation urged the prime minister to bring to justice the masterminds of the 1984 riots. The memorandum also urged the Indian Government to provide visas to the Sikhs in the US who have received political asylum. Singh, who is currently on a three-city US trip to inaugurate Passport Seva projects in New York, Washington DC and Atlanta, was felicitated at a Baltimore Gurdwara in Maryland in recognition of some of the decisions being taken by the Indian government for the Sikh community. The local Sikh community from Maryland and Virginia representing the Sikh Sewa presented a Saropa to the minister at a community reception later in the evening.