Baisakhi celebrations: Over 1000 Sikh pilgrims depart for Pakistan
Amritsar, April 9: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) sent a Sikh Jatha comprising 1,052 pilgrims to Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Pakistan on Sunday to celebrate Baisakhi.
"We received visas for 1,052 people. They will also visit Nankana Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib and other Gurdwaras in Pakistan," Secretary of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Partap Singh said.
He went on to say, "It is a matter of great regret that every year the central government does not give visas to many of the pilgrims from Batch who want to go to Pakistan for Guru's place. When they find out got refused their visa. They felt so sad and upset. Government should not be done this."
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The Secretary of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee further stated that they have urged devotees to ensure that the batch remains under the protocol.
"If we talk about Pakistan's economic condition is going on nowadays, we want to help them in some way, but No help was sought from their government," he further said.
Besides the SGPC, Sikh devotees sponsored by Haryana Gurdwara Management and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee also departed on Sunday for celebrations.
There were a total of 2,500 Sikh pilgrims who crossed into Pakistan.
- With inputs from agencies
