Jathedar Gargajj further stated that nothing ‘bad or wrong has happened with the cricket match being played between India and Pakistan'
Sri Akal Takht Sahib’s Jathedar Calls India's Decision To Not Send Jatha To Pak November 'Wrong' News: Sri Akal Takht Sahib’s Acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gardgaj termed the Government of India’s decision not to send the Jatha of Sikh devotees from India to Pakistan this year in November on the occasion of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Prakash Gurpurab ‘wrong’.
Gardgaj questioned that if cricket can be played between the two countries, then why can’t the Jatha of Sikh devotees go to Pakistan.
He said that if the government wants peace and development in the region, then it is necessary that the relations between India and Pakistan become ‘cordial’, and that the countries open the routes of trade between each other.
The statement of the Jathedar comes after the central government in a notice addressed to the state secretaries of Punjab, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, stated that ‘ it would be possible to send the Sikh Pilgrims Jatha to Pakistan on the occasion of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji in November 2025” in view of the prevailing security scenario with Pakistan.
Jathedar Gardgaj, referring to the agreement between the two countries, stated that every year, Sikh groups go to visit the Gurdwaras in Pakistan.
He called the GOI’s decision ‘absolutely wrong’ for depriving the Sikh community from participating in the celebrations on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Sri Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Jathedar Gardgaj further stated that the Sikh community living all over the world celebrates the birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji with great devotion and since Sri Nankana Sahib is the birthplace of Guru Sahib Ji, thousands of Sikhs come here every year to pay homage.
Jathedar Gargajj said that whatever bitter atmosphere had developed between the two countries in the past, it should not affect the relations of the communities, but issues should be resolved through goodwill and dialogue.
Jathedar Gardgaj requested the Pakistan government to also ensure the Indian government that if the Jatha of Sikh devotees visit to Pakistan, then they will take full responsibility for their safety.
Jathedar Gargajj said that if both nations play cricket or any other game with each other, it is a good initiative, it is welcome, it will improve mutual relations, but the same policy should be adopted regarding Sikh groups.
He criticized the opposition parties in India, especially those working in Punjab for opposing the government on this issue over playing a cricket match with Pakistan.
He said that “any political party working in Punjab should welcome the step with a big heart that improves the relations between the two countries, because only with mutual understanding and love will peace and tranquility prevail in the region and not with hatred.”
Jathedar Gargajj further stated that nothing ‘bad or wrong has happened with the cricket match being played between India and Pakistan’ and the same approach should be taken regarding the groups of Sikh pilgrims.
Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj said that “on the one hand, the Sikh congregations and organizations are continuously demanding the government to open the Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, which was closed in the past, while on the other hand, the government has now done something that hurts the sentiments of Sikhs by stopping even the Sikh groups that go there every year after obtaining visas as per the agreement.”
He said that during the partition of 1947, Sikhs and Punjabis suffered and were separated from a large number of their beloved shrines, and now Sikhs feel that they are being discriminated against and made to feel alienated.
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