Centre denies permission to Sikh pilgrims planning to travel to Pak on Saka Nankana Sahib anniversary
SGPC President slammed the Central government after the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday denied permission to Sikh pilgrims who were scheduled to visit Pakistan on the 100th anniversary of Saka Nankana Sahib. A group of 600 people wanted to go to Pakistan from February 18 to 25 for 100th anniversary of Saka Nankana Sahib. Also Read | Farmers will not return home till they win: Gurnam Singh Charuni The MHA stated that "You may be aware that traffic on India Pakistan International border has been suspended from March 2020 due to coronavrius pandemic." "While the pandemic continues to persist, it is pertinent to note that Pakistan has so far recorder over half a million cases with over 10,000 plus deaths due to COVID-19," it added. Also Read | Rail Roko Agitation in India: Indian Railways deploys additional companies After receiving the letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Bibi Jagir Kaur on Wednesday said that the denial at the last minute after completion of all preparations was a testament to the anti-Sikh mentality of the Indian Government. She said that the letter stated that there was an issue of security and safety of the pilgrims and the Indo-Pakistan border has been suspended since March due to coronavirus pandemic. Bibi Jagir Kaur said that the argument was not justified as a group of Sikh pilgrims had visited the holy shrine in Pakistan last year in November. -PTC News