The Kartarpur Corridor, connecting the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur, Punjab to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan, was inaugurated today, allowing Sikh pilgrims in India year round access to one of their holiest sites. As part of the Kartarpur Corridor inauguration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the first procession of over 500 pilgrims on the Indian side while his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan declared it open at the other end.
The Kartarpur Corridor opening marks the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, founder of Sikhism. The corridor is being inaugurated almost a year after the foundation stone for was laid down.
PM Modi today inaugurated the Integrated Check Post, a passenger terminal building where pilgrims will get clearance to travel through the 4.5 km-long corridor. The design of the state-of-the-art passenger terminal building is inspired by "Khanda", a symbol of faith in the Sikh community.
The fully air-conditioned building has over 50 immigration counters for facilitating about 5,000 pilgrims a day.
The project was executed by central government agency -- Land Ports Authority of India. It has all the necessary public amenities such as kiosks, washrooms, child care, first aid medical facilities, prayer room and snacks counters inside the main building.
India had signed an agreement with Pakistan on October 24 on the modalities for operationalisation of the corridor at ''Zero Point'' of the international boundary at Dera Baba Nanak.
Here are the live updates of the Kartarpur Corridor opening:
"I am thanking Modi ji also, it doesn't matter if we have political differences,doesn't matter if my life is dedicated to Gandhi family, I am sending a Munnabhai MBBS style hug to you Modi sahab for this," said Navjot Singh Sidhu, reported news agency ANI.
Navjot Singh Sidhu at inaugural ceremony of #KartarpurCorridor in Pakistan: I am thanking Modi ji also, it doesn't matter if we have political differences,doesn't matter if my life is dedicated to Gandhi family, I am sending a Munnabhai MBBS style hug to you Modi sahab for this https://t.co/VqQQduVFaL pic.twitter.com/3Rz0lUf2rW
- ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2019
Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh after a visit to #KartarpurCorridor: It was a really good experience, I hope the Corridor will eventually become a corridor of peace between the two countries. pic.twitter.com/RWqcHsEZ9T
- ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2019
Former Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh after a visit to #KartarpurCorridor: It was a good beginning, India-Pakistan relations are subject to many buts and ifs, I hope this is a good beginning to normalise our relation. pic.twitter.com/R8rdLlGXSy
- ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2019
PM @narendramodi gets a guided tour of digital installation on life of #GuruNanakDev Ji and his Udasis and the Passenger Terminal Building ahead of inauguration of #KartarpurCorridor #GuruNanak550 pic.twitter.com/7dUOlHcs0U
- PIB India (@PIB_India) November 9, 2019
"Today is historic and pure. Guru Nanak Dev ji''s 550th Birth Anniversary is being celebrated across the world with reverence. Our prayers have been answered today due to our Prime Minister and our Akal Takht. With the opening of the road, we get the opportunity to take Guru Nanak's message to every home," says the former Punjab Chief Minister
Former PM Manmohan Singh, who is part of the official delegation visiting the Gurudwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan, arrived at the Intergrated Check Post where he was received by Congress MP Preneet Kaur.
"Kartarpur was not only the place where Guru Nanak Dev spent most his life, but the smell of sweat of Guru Nanak Dev ji is found in every particle of Kartapur. His voice echoes in the air of Kartarpur," says Prime Minister at the inauguration of the Integrated Check Post of the Kartarpur Corridor
"The opening of the Integrated Check Post, Kartarpur Sahib Corridor ahead of the the 550th Prakash Utsav of Guru Nanak Dev has brought double the happiness to all of us.
Guru Nanak Dev is not only part of Sikh, Indian heritage, but is an inspiration for the whole of humanity," says Prime Minister Narendra Modi
"After the construction of this corridor, Gurudwara Darbar Sahib (in Kartarpur, Pakistan) will become easily accessible to Sikh pilgrims. I express my gratitude to the Punjab Government, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and every partner who helped built this corridor in due time": PM Modi
"I heartily congratulate all of you, all Sikh brothers and sisters in the country and the world on the inauguration of the Kartarpur Corridor," says Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"Today, on this holy land, I am feeling blessed. It is my good fortunate that I am dedicating the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor to the country today," says PM Modi at the inauguration of Integrated Check Post of the Kartarpur Corridor
Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu arrived at Integrated Check Post of the Kartarpur Corridor, news agency ANI reported.
Mr Sidhu had sought permission to attend the Pakistan inaugural event on three occasions, and his request was cleared on Thursday.
The Punjab Congress MLA was invited to the event by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was his contemporary on the cricketing field in the 1980s
PM Modi arrived in Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district. He met former Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal
First 'Jatha' or delegation of Sikh pilgrims from India arrive in Pakistan through the Kartarpur Corridor, news agency ANI reports.
PM Modi will inaugurate the Integrated Check Post in Gurdaspur, today.
ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਬੇਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ, ਸੁਲਤਾਨਪੁਰ ਲੋਧੀ ਵਿਖੇ ਆ ਕੇ ਮਨ ਨੂੰ ਸੁਕੂਨ ਮਿਲਿਆ।
- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 9, 2019
ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਸਭ ਦਾ ਭਲਾ ਕਰੇ। 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/KwdDjOLc6D
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accompanied by Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator VP Singh Badnore, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal
- PM Modi spent nearly 20 minutes at the Gurdwara and listened to the 'kirtan' (devotional song)
- Over five lakh devotees paid obeisance at Gurudwara Ber Sahib today
- Guru Nanak Dev had spent 14 years of his early life at Sultanpur Lodhi and used to take daily bath in the holy Kali Bein
- Sultanpur Lodhi city is decked up with flowers, hoardings and several colourful gates to welcome the pilgrims
(inputs from news agency PTI)
PM @narendramodi accompanied by Union Minister @HarsimratBadal_ pays obeisance at Gurudwara Shri Ber Sahib at #SultanpurLodhi#GuruNanak550 pic.twitter.com/gnac1NLT4e
- PIB India (@PIB_India) November 9, 2019
The prime minister was presented a "siropa" (robe of honour) by Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee, the body that control over Sikh religious affairs, manages gurdwaras (Sikh temples) in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, including the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
PM Modi arrived at Sultanpur Lodhi in helicopter. He was received by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Union Minister Harisimrat Kaur Badal (not in picture).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived at Amritsar Airport. He will pay obeisance at the Ber Sahib Gurudwara in Sultanpur Lodhi, Punjab -- about 170 km from Chandigarh.
