Kartarpur Corridor: Movement on the Kartarpur corridor was suspended in March 2020
The Kartarpur Sahib Corridor -- the road to Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan -- will reopen today, two days before the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted on Tuesday, saying the decision will benefit a large number of Sikh pilgrims. The Centre had blamed Pakistan for not reopening the 4.4 km corridor, which has been shut for more than a year.
"In a major decision, that will benefit large numbers of Sikh pilgrims, PM @Narendramodi govt has decided to re-open the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor from tomorrow, Nov 17. This decision reflects the immense reverence of Modi govt towards Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and our Sikh community," Mr Shah had tweeted.
A large number of Sikh leaders, including Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, his predecessor Amarinder Singh and Punjab Congress chief Navjot Sidhu had requested the Centre to reopen the corridor before Gurpurab.
Earlier on Tuesday, both Amarinder Singh and Navjot Sidhu tweeted their requests to reopen the corridor.
"I urge Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji to open the Kartarpur Corridor before Nov 19, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, so that people can pay obeisance at the holy shrine on this sacred occasion," tweeted Amarinder Singh.
"I urge GOI to reopen Kartarpur Corridor, to create a new Darshan Asthan for khule darshan didar for all and to cancel the 3 farm laws on Shri Guru Nanak's Gurpurab, as its a day for reflection, rediscovery and reiteration of Gurus message of peace, harmony & universal brotherhood," tweeted Navjot Sidhu.
Amarinder Singh and Mr Sidhu were also among the first to welcome the news of the reopening.
Movement on the Kartarpur corridor was suspended in March 2020, when Pakistan put restrictions on travel from India after the Covid outbreak. Last year, citing improvement in the pandemic situation, Pakistan first expressed its willingness to reopen the corridor on June 27. Islamabad then said it will reopen on October 3.
The 4.5 km-long corridor connects Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab's Gurdaspur to Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, a small town in Pakistan's Punjab province, about 4 km from the International Border. It is the place where the founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak is believed to have spent the last 18 years of his life.