Ayodhya verdict: PM Narendra Modi today addressed the nation after Supreme Court judgement
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the corridor to Kartarpur and the Supreme Court's landmark verdict in the Ayodhya title suit - two key events that took place on Saturday -- were akin to the demolition of Berlin Wall, sending a message of peace and unity.
"November 9 was when the Berlin Wall had fallen. People had taken a pledge then," the Prime Minister said this evening in an address to the nation -- referring to the demolition of the wall that divided East and West Germany 30 years ago.
"Today, Kartarpur Sahib Corridor started with the cooperation of India and Pakistan. Today, with Ayodhya verdict, this date of November 9, teaches us to live together and move forward.
"Today's message is to unite, be united and to live together. If there is any bitterness, hatred in any one's mind, it is time for them to let go of this," he added.
The Prime Minister had opened the corridor to Kartarpur on Saturday morning and the first batch of Sikh pilgrims left for the shrine in Pakistan. On the occasion, he had thanked Pakistan and its Prime Minister Inran Khan, saying "He understood India's feelings on the Kartarpur Corridor issue, gave respect and, keeping in view those feelings, worked accordingly".
The 4.5 km-long corridor connects Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab's Gurdaspur to Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, a small town in Pakistan's Punjab province, about 4 km from the International Border. It is the place where the founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak is believed to have spent the last 18 years of his life.
The judgment in the Ayodhya case also came today, resolving the hugely divisive temple-mosque dispute. The disputed 2.77 acres of land went to Ram Lalla - the infant Lord Ram who is a respondent I the case - for a temple and an alternate 5-acre site will be given for a mosque, the court had said.
PM Modi said it was a "Golden chapter in history". "Every section has welcomed verdict, this represents India's unity in diversity. This mantra has blossomed again today," he said.