There has been an intense backlash after Sikh pilgrims were denied permission to travel to Pakistan, following an advisory from India’s Ministry of Home Affairs. The restriction is reportedly due to heightened tensions and concerns about security between the two countries.
Religious leaders and opposition figures in Indian Punjab sharply criticized the move. They argued that if sporting exchanges like cricket matches are permitted between India and Pakistan, denying travel for pilgrims holds no valid justification. Many highlighted that pilgrimages are a vital religious practice that should be protected.
The pilgrims were expected to travel in November to take part in the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak. Punjab’s Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann condemned the decision, arguing that the central government has no authority to block religious freedoms. Mann emphasized that allowing cricket but forbidding pilgrimage deeply offends religious sentiments.
Former Lok Sabha member Sukhbir Singh Badal appealed directly to Home Minister Amit Shah, urging a reconsideration. He said that barring access to Kartarpur Corridor particularly undermines the emotional and spiritual rights of Sikh followers.
Each year, thousands of Sikh devotees travel to Pakistan during religious observances such as Baisakhi, with the visits arranged under the India-Pakistan Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974. The protocol is meant to promote cross-border religious harmony and understanding.
Earlier in the year, more than 6,500 visas had been granted by the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi so that Sikh pilgrims could visit shrines like Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, and Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib during the Baisakhi period.
The controversy comes at a moment of deteriorating relations between India and Pakistan following a fatal attack in a contested region. Many believe this diplomatic strain has influenced decisions related to travel and religious pilgrimage.
Punjab Leaders in India Slam Ban on Sikh Pilgrims Traveling to Kartarpur in Pakistan
