PSGPC allows nagar kirtan led by Guru Granth Sahib

The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) today categorically said it would allow nagar kirtan to Pakistan through Wagah led by Guru Granth Sahib only and not by any individual to mark the 400th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev on June 12.

Without naming the SGPC, a written message, faxed by the PSGPC, stated that it invited all Sikh organisations to participate in the nagar kirtan and not any individual Sikh body.

The invitation was extended to the SGPC, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Dashmesh Youth Organisation, Khalra Mission Committee, Sikh Students Federation, Damdami Taksal and SAD (A) and not to a single Sikh body.

It stated that any other organisation, desirous of joining the nagar kirtan could contact the PSGPC at the earliest.

The development has come as a major setback to the SGPC and Shiromani Akali Dal, which wanted to steal the show at a time when the DSGMC had withdrawn from taking out nagar kirtan to Lahore following preponing of the schedule.

Mr Parkash Singh Badal, president, SAD, and senior leaders of the party are expected to participate in the nagar kirtan.

Dr Pritpal Singh, president, American Sikh Gurdwara Committee, while talking to The Tribune from Pakistan said no individual should make any effort to take political mileage by participating in the ceremonies. He clarified that Mr Badal would not be allowed to lead the jatha.

Meanwhile, a jatha of 108 Sindhi Sikhs, led by Mr Mahesh Singh, president, Sikh Naujwan Sabha, Sindh, today arrived from the Sindh Province and Karachi to participate in the functions being organised by the SGPC at Tarn Taran on Guru Arjan Dev’s 400th martyrdom anniversary.

They said the jatha wanted to come here on June 1 but the visas were delayed by the Indian Embassy.

Mr Mahesh Singh said the jatha members would visit the Golden Temple, Sikh shrines in Anandpur Sahib, Fatehgarh Sahib and New Delhi, etc.

He, however, rued that the jatha members were harassed by the customs officials at Wagah. “The officials wanted to impose customs duty on dry parsad, weighing 10 kg, which they had brought from Pakistan to distribute among devotees on Guru Arjan Dev’s martyrdom day. It took long time to convince the officials that it was not a commodity for sale.�

Mr Mahesh Singh urged Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister, India, and Gen Pervez Musharraf, President of Pakistan, to take appropriate measures so that pilgrims of both countries could visit their shrines in India and Pakistan without any hassle.