New Delhi: India on Thursday said that Jatha around 1,500 pilgrims will visit Pakistan from 17 to 26 November by an integrated checkpoint of Atari-Wagah, in accordance with the 1974 bilateral protocol between India and Pakistan at religious visits.
The move came by looking at the importance of the next opportunity from Teacher Nanak Gurpurab, and sentiment related to the Religious Festival, spokesman for the external Ministry Arindam Bagchi said during media direction.
“It has been decided that ‘Jatha’ around 1,500 pilgrims will visit Pakistan from November 17-26 according to the 1974 protocol about the visit to the Indian-Pakistani B / W religious temple,” Bagchi said.
“They [the Jatha] will visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Sri Panja Sahib, Dera Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib and Gurdwara Sacha Sauda,” he added.
Teacher Nanak Jayanti, also known as Teacher Nanak Gurpurab, celebrates the birth of the first teacher’s sikh and is considered one of the most sacred festivals among Sikh.
Today is celebrated on a full moon day of the month of Kartik according to the Hindu calendar.
This is also marked as Poornima Kartik.
This happened after Bagchi was asked about his remarks about the opening of the Kartarpur corridor.
“The movement to the Kartarpur corridor was suspended in March 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Land journey between India and Pakistan since being arranged on a limited scale through an integrated checkpoint of ATTARI-WAGAH in coordination with Pakistan,” a spokesman said.
said.
The 1974 protocol about the visit to the religious temple between India and Pakistan is a set of principles applied while still overseeing the sentiments and service from various communities in both countries.
The protocol states that the visit from one country to another must be permitted without discrimination against religion or sects; Up to 20 parties can be allowed to visit from one country to another every year, while the number can be revised from time to time; Every effort must continue to be carried out to ensure that the religious places mentioned in the agreed list are well maintained and their sanctity is preserved, the external ministry said in a statement.
Earlier this year, Pakistan denied permits to Sikh pilgrims from India to Pakistan on two occasions in June this year; One on the day of martial arjan dev ji and second at the commemoration of the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji, said MEA spokesman.
During the press direction, Bagchi also made a comment on the Indian Maitri vaccine program and notifies that India has continued the supply of Indian vaccines abroad.
“Given our vaccine domestic needs, we have continued our supply abroad from India making vaccines,” Bagchi said.
“Some shipments have occurred, while others are on a pipeline including through Covax facilities,” he added.