AMRITSAR:Damdami Taksal chief and Sant Samaj president Sant Giani Harnam Singh Khalsa has demanded removal of ban on carrying kirpans at the airport by Sikh Narendra Modi government on duty at the Center and related to the Sikh community.
Passengers were warmly welcomed by the Center for allowing them to carry up to 9 inches of kirpan while traveling on domestic flights.
In a statement, the head of Damdami Taksal demanded resumption of direct international flights from Sri Guru Ram Dass International Airport, Amritsar.
He said that Punjab had the highest number of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in the world and millions of devotees from all over the world used to come to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Amritsar is a hub not only for religious but also for commercial and cultural activities. Of course in October 2019, the national carrier Air India wrote "Ek Onkar" on one of its top model aircraft during its maiden flight from Amritsar to London Stansted (UK) on the occasion of Guru Nanak's 550th birth anniversary. Presented to the world a unique example of peace, harmony and universal communion.
He said that there are more than one million people of Punjabi descent living in the area around Toronto, Vancouver. The launch of direct carrier Amritsar-Toronto / Vancouver by National Carrier will benefit millions of passengers and send another message of harmony to the world. It will strengthen Indo-Canadian trade, commerce and bilateral ties and bring economic benefits to farmers in Punjab and its neighboring states.
He further said that these direct flights are to San Francisco, New York, Washington DC, USA. More than one million Punjabi immigrants from Canada and other US cities will also be able to benefit.
He said that the national carrier was already operating direct flights from Delhi to Toronto / Vancouver which were flying from Amritsar city. Air India re-routed these flights via Amritsar (Delhi-Amritsar-Toronto / Vancouver) and asked the Prime Minister to intervene.