LAHORE: The opening of the Kartarpur corridor will prove to be a path of peace and happiness for both Pakistan and India.

These were the words of Navjot Singh Sidhu, former Indian cricketer and Indian Punjab’s minister for local government, tourism and cultural affairs, who along with two other ministers arrived here on Tuesday to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor in Narowal.

“The corridor will bring peace and prosperity for the people of both countries and it will also prove to be a foundation stone of brotherhood,” Mr Sidhu said while addressing a press conference at the Lahore Press Club.

Says he and 120 million Sikhs are delighted

“I have brought a message of peace for Pakistanis. Religion connects people and does not create differences,” he said.

Mr Sidhu was of the view that the opening of the Kartarpur corridor would lead to economic prosperity in the region and would extend its trade to Silk Road. “The people of both Pakistan and Indian Punjab suffered a lot and this corridor would help heal their wounds besides giving them a new hope of a better future,” he said. He also recited his poetic verses about religious harmony and teaching of Guru Nanak and Baba Fareed Ganj Shakkar.

Answering a question, he said that his country’s leadership in centre had not objected to his visit. “Nobody said kintu, parantu (ifs and buts). In fact I was encouraged to go. I have come here as a messenger of peace. This is an opportunity to erase enmity between the two nations,” Mr Sidhu said.

On a question about his hug with the Pakistani army chief during his previous visit, he said, “It was a one-second hug, not a Rafale Deal”.

Earlier, the Indian delegation comprising minister for food Harsimrat Kaur Badal, minister for housing Hardeep S. Puri and Mr Sidhu were received by officials of the Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) at the Wagah border.

Talking to reporters there, Mr Sidhu thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan for inviting him to the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor to be held in Narowal district on Wednesday (today). He said PM Khan had planted a seed three months ago and it had now become a tree. “I and 120 million Sikhs are delighted,” he added.

Some journalists from India have also reached Lahore through the Wagah border.

PM Khan will perform the groundbreaking of the corridor connecting Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur area of Narowal district to Dera Baba Nanak in India’s Gurdaspur district on Wednesday (today).

The Pakistan government will open the corridor on the Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2018