Ex-Indian PM accepts invitation for Kartarpur Corridor inauguration

Former Indian prime minister (PM) Manmohan Singh has accepted Pakistan’s invitation to travel across the border for the Kartarpur Corridor inauguration in November this year.

According to Indian Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Amarinder Singh’s spokesperson, the former premier will join the first Jatha [organised company of Sikhs] to Kartarpur Gurdwara on November 9.

“Former PM Dr Manmohan Singh accepts @capt_amarinder’s invite to join 1st Jatha to Sri Kartarpur Gurdwara on Nov 9, will also attend Sultanpur Lodhi main event @550yrsGuruNanak [sic],” Raveen Thukral tweeted.

Former PM Dr Manmohan Singh accepts @capt_amarinder’s invite to join 1st Jatha to Sri Kartarpur Gurdwara on Nov 9, will also attend Sultanpur Lodhi main event @550yrsGuruNanak pic.twitter.com/cD9rJoZUBT

— Raveen Thukral (@Raveen64) October 3, 2019

Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had announced the decision to invite ex-PM Singh in a video message that he said, would be followed up with a formal invitation from the Pakistani government.

“Dr Singh is widely respected in India and hails from the Sikh community,” he had said in the video that also made a reference to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s deep interest in the Kartarpur project.

The corridor will connect Darbar Sahib in Pakistan’s Kartarpur with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India’s Gurdaspur district and facilitate visa-free movement of Indian pilgrims, who will have to obtain a permit to make the pilgrimage.

The corridor will be opened in November ahead of Guru Nanak Dev’s 550th birth anniversary. Kartarpur Sahib was established in 1522 by Sikh faith founder Guru Nanak Dev.