Navjot Singh Sidhu on Wednesday wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) again, reminding them of his request for permission to travel to the Kartarpur corridor opening on the invite of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Incase permission to the Pakistan invitation is not granted, Sidhu said he would cross the border as a pilgrim.
Sidhu wrote the letter to Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar even as the Punjab assembly held a special session to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak—which Sidhu skipped.
An important nuance in the Punjab MLA’s latest request to the MEA is his admission that he would travel as an Indian Sikh pilgrim from Wagah to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan’s Kartarpur, and return the next evening.
The group of Indian pilgrims comprising former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Punjab CM Amarinder Singh, besides 573 others, will travel to the Kartarpur corridor on November 8. Sidhu has maintained that he does not wish to be a part of this congregation.
In his letter to the MEA, Sidhu said: “Given that the invite from Pakistan has come, copy already submitted to you, the programme is crystal clear. I humbly submit for the permission to cross over from the corridor in the morning before 9.30 AM on November 9, 2019, to be in time for the inauguration slated at 11.00 AM.
I would first like to meditate at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib (Kartarpur) for the shukrana (thanks giving) on Babaji’s glory and grace, have langar with sangat as a humble Sikh, attend the inauguration ceremony and come back by evening through the corridor. However, if it is not possible then I would go on to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib (Kartarpur) through Wagah border one day before, ie on November 8, 2019, stay overnight at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, attend the ceremonyand come back next day ie November 9, 2019 through the corridor. At present, I don’t have a visa for Pakistan.”
Sidhu requested Jaishankar to take early action on his request, adding “Your early response would determine my future course of action.”