Pakistan has refused permission to a batch of Sikh pilgrims to visit Lahore to participate in annual programs held on the occasion of the death anniversary of 19th-century Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh, citing the Covid-19 pandemic.
Every year on June 21, a jatha (batch) of Sikh pilgrims visit Gurdwara Sri Dehra Sahib, Lahore to observe the death anniversary of Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the leader of the Sikh empire, which ruled the northwest Indian subcontinent in the early half of the 19th century.
“The Yatra Department of SGPC had a telephonic talk with Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s president Satwant Singh, who informed that due to the Covid-19 situation, the jatha of Indian Sikh pilgrims going to Pakistan to observe the death anniversary of Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh has not been given permission by the Pakistan government,” Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) media assistant secretary Kulwinder Singh Ramdas said.
The Pakistan administration has cancelled visits by foreign pilgrims to the country for the upcoming two major events –martyrdom day of Guru Arjandev and death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh–for the Sikh community.
Responding to a question on why Pakistan cancelled the next two forthcoming visits of the jatha, Pakistan’s chairman of Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETBP) Amir Ahmed said, “It is correct. Looking at the international Covid-19 spike, foreign jathas are not allowed to participate in June religious events.”
Meanwhile, SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur, while reacting to the denial of permission by the Pakistan government, said that it has hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community.
“If such a decision was to be taken, then the information should have been given before starting the visa process. The governments of India and Pakistan are taking such decisions while ignoring the sentiments of the Sikhs. Earlier, the jatha was restricted by the Indian government on the occasion of the centenary of Saka (massacre) Nankana Sahib and now the Pakistan government has disappointed the Sangat (devotees) by denying permission to two jathas in a row”, said Bibi Jagir Kaur.
She said that there is always devotion in the minds of the devotees for the pilgrimage to the holy shrines in Pakistan, so the governments should respect the sentiments of the Sangat.
The SGPC announced that those pilgrims who had submitted their passports to the SGPC office for the visit, can collect their documents from the Yatra Department of SGPC since the trip stands cancelled.
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