Former Indian cricketer, Navjot Singh Sidhu, and Congress’s Punjab Chief called PM Imran Khan his ‘big brother’. Sidhu called PM Imran Khan his big brother when he was welcomed at the Kartarpur Corridor on behalf of the premier.
Navjot Singh Sidhu has reached Pakistan to visit the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib to take part in the annual commemoration of the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. Kartarpur Corridor Project Management Unit Chief Executive Officer welcomed Navjot Singh Sidhu on behalf of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Watch | @sherryontopp crosses border into Pakistan, to visit Kartarpur Sahib today @manaman_chhina reports pic.twitter.com/GtxYrRQ4u8
— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) November 20, 2021
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While expressing gratitude he said Imran Khan is a ‘big brother’ to me. He later visited the Gurdwara to perform religious rituals. This is his second visit to Kartarpur, Pakistan.
Sikh pilgrims arrive in Pakistan
The development comes soon after Pakistan reopened the Kartarpur Corridor for the birth anniversary celebration of Baba Guru Nanak. India shortly followed and announced that it will also open the corridor from its side. The Indian government had restricted travel through the corridor in March 2020 owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Kartarpur Corridor links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district.
Important to note, Pakistan had been pressing India to reopen the corridor to facilitate the pilgrims, but it took time as India kept citing the pandemic. Moreover, many Indian politicians also urged the Modi government to reopen the corridor. Just two days earlier, India reopened the corridor.
As soon as the corridor opened, Sikh pilgrims from India came to Pakistan. So far, around 2500 Sikhs arrived for the occasion. According to reports, Indian politicians will also visit Pakistan to honor Baba Guru Nanak.
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Sikh pilgrims have been expressing gratitude over the hospitality and warm welcome given to them in Pakistan. They have expressed contentment with the arrangements made here.