AMRITSAR: A jatha of Sikh pilgrims visiting Gurdwara Sri Dehra Sahib Lahore on the occasion of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's death anniversary will not be able to visit Pakistan this time. The jatha was not allowed by the Pakistan government due to the Corona epidemic.
Shironani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee SGPC President Bibi Jagir Kaur while reacting to the denial of permission by the Pakistan government to the Sikh Jatha on the occasion of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's death anniversary said that it has hurt the hearts of the Sikh community.
She said that in order to do so, the information should have been given before the start of the visa process. She said that the governments of India and Pakistan were taking such decisions ignoring the sentiments of Sikhs.
Earlier, the Jatha was banned by the Government of India on the occasion of the centenary of the Nankana Sahib massacre and now the Government of Pakistan has disappointed the Sangat by not approving two Jathas in a row.
Bibi Jagir Kaur said that the pilgrimage to the holy shrines in Pakistan attracts the attention of the Sangat, so the governments should respect the sentiments of the Sangat.
The jatha was to leave for Pakistan on June 21 and return to India on June 30 after observing the anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh on June 29.