- The Union Interior Ministry said its authorization was mandatory due to cross-border travel restrictions imposed in March last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
By Neeraj Chauhan, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED FEBRUARY 17, 2021 10:39 PM IST
India has denied permission to a group of 600 Sikh pilgrims scheduled to travel to Pakistan on a week-long visit starting Thursday, citing a “considerable threat” to their safety and health infrastructure in the neighboring country to treat the cases. of Covid. with the matter said.
The decision of the Union Ministry of the Interior was transmitted on Wednesday to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the highest temporary body of Sikhs, which had organized the visit to attend the 100th anniversary of Saka Nankana Sahib.
Hindustan Times has seen a copy of this communication.
“Recent contributions indicate a threat to the safety of Indian nationals visiting Pakistan. As the Jatha (pilgrim caravan), which may have almost 600 members, is scheduled to visit five Gurudwaras in Pakistan over a period of one week, we apprehend a considerable threat to the security of a large number of our citizens during this visit. Inside said the letter.
A person familiar with the development acknowledged that the Interior Ministry’s decision was unusual. Sikh Jathas They have never been prevented from going to Pakistan in the past, even when bilateral relations between two countries were at their worst, during the 11/26 Mumbai attacks or the Pulwama attack. There may have been cases where people were detained but Sikh Jathas They were also allowed to travel to Pakitan in November 2020.
The Interior Ministry letter on Wednesday said their permission was needed “in view of the ongoing suspension of cross-border traffic due to the Covid-19 pandemic.”
India had suspended travel to Pakistan in March 2020 in light of the coronavirus pandemic that infected more than 10 million people and caused 1,55,913 deaths.
The Interior Ministry letter added: “While the pandemic continues to persist, it is pertinent to note that Pakistan has so far recorded more than half a million cases with more than 10,000 deaths due to Covid. Considering the capacity of the health infrastructure in Pakistan, it is not advisable for a large group of our citizens to visit Pakistan for a week during the pandemic. “
So far there has been no reaction from the SGPC.
To close
.
