Sikh pilgrims stage protest as India stops them at Attari station
At least 96 of the Sikh pilgrims were issued visas of special train by Pakistani High Commission.
LAHORE (Daily Dunya) – Several Sikh pilgrims failed to arrive in Lahore to attend the 10-day Jorr Mela held to mark martyrdom of Arjun Dev Jee, after Indian authorities stopped them at Attari Railway Station.
At least 96 of the Sikh pilgrims were issued visas of special train by Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi, however; when they reached Attari Railway Station Indian authorities refused to permit them to travel while describing the reason that the pilgrims were lesser in number therefore; they cannot be sent via the special train.
Responding to the situation, Pakistan sent Samjhota Express to Attari Station but met with resistance once again and returned empty as the Indian authorities adopted stance that the pilgrims have been issued visas of special train and not Samjhota Express.
The pilgrims strongly protested against the action of Indian authorities at the station. Later, at least 14 of them arrived in Pakistan via Wagah border and were warmly received by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) officials.
Following the schedule, the pilgrims departed for Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Hasan Abdal, by a special bus under tight security. They will stay in Lahore till June 9 and will then travel to Gurdwara Janam Asthan Nankana Sahib on June 10 by special train.
After two days, the pilgrims will visit Gurdwara Sacha Soda Farooqabad and will return to Nankana Sahib afterwards. Next day, the special train will take them to Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore where they will attend the main ceremony on June 16 at 8 am.
Accordingly, the Sikh pilgrims will return to India on June 17 from Wagah railway station. While talking to media, the pilgrims termed Pakistan as their ‘second home’. They asserted that no one can prevent them from visiting Pakistan as they will keep on coming in the country which is the land of their Gurus.
