Shut amid Covid-19 outbreak, Kartarpur Corridor reopens to pilgrims

Shut amid the Covid-19 outbreak, the Kartarpur Corridor will reopen from Wednesday, as informed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday. Now, the Sikh pilgrims can visit Sri Kartarpur Sahib ahead of the Parkash Utsav of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Amit Shah took to Twitter and wrote, "In a major decision, that will benefit large numbers of Sikh pilgrims, PM Narendra Modi government has decided to re-open the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor from tomorrow, November 17. This decision reflects the immense reverence of the Modi government towards Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and our Sikh community." Also Read | Air pollution: Delhi calls for ban on construction in NCR, shutdown of industries "The nation is all set to celebrate the Prakash Utsav of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji on November 19 and I am sure that PM Narendra Modi government's decision to reopen the Kartarpur Sahib corridor will further boost the joy and happiness across the country," added Shah. Also Read | India slams Pakistan at UNSC, asks it to vacate illegally occupied areas of Jammu and Kashmir The corridor was shut in wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The visa-free 4.7-kilometre long corridor joins the Indian border to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan. It became operational in 2019 and was inaugurated by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. The reopening of Kartarpur will assist thousands of devotees, largely Sikhs, to visit the final resting place of Guru Nanak in Pakistan. Alternatively, the devotees are visiting the shrine going via the Attari-Wagah border which requires a visa. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday welcomed the decision of the Centre to re-open the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor from Wednesday. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi announced that the entire Punjab Cabinet will pay obeisance at Sri Kartarpur Sahib on November 18 as a part of the first delegation after reopening of Kartarpur corridor. -PTC News