Fourteen Indian citizens initially allowed entry by Pakistan were part of a group of pilgrims traveling to Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, to celebrate his 556th birth anniversary. However, they sent back after officials dismissed them as Hindus, not Sikhs.
These 14 pilgrims among around 2,100 people cleared by the Union Home Ministry to visit Pakistan. Islamabad had issued travel documents to a similar number.
14 indian hindus entry denied on Guru Nanak Jayanti
On Tuesday, about 1,900 people crossed into Pakistan via the Wagah border, marking the first people-to-people contact since Operation Sindoor, the four-day military conflict in May. However, it now come to light that the 14 Hindu pilgrims—Pakistani-born Sindhis who obtained Indian citizenship and aimed to meet relatives—were sent back.
Sources told that officials told them, “You are Hindu… you can’t go with Sikh devotees.” These individuals included residents from Delhi and Lucknow. They walked back feeling humiliated after informed that only those recorded as Sikh allowed entry.
Indian Sikh Delegation Crosses Wagah Border
Among those who crossed the Wagah border into Pakistan were Akal Takht leader Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, Bibi Gurinder Kaur, leading a delegation from the Shrimoni Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, and Ravinder Singh Sweeta from the Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee.
The main ceremony take place later today at Gurdwara Janamasthan, located 80 km from Lahore. During their 10-day stay, the visiting Indian Sikh pilgrims will also visit Gurdwara Panja Sahib Hasan Abdal, Gurdwara Sacha Sauda Farooqabad, and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur.
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