Sikh organizations urge Centre to reconsider Pakistan pilgrimage travel ban
**Sikh Organizations Urge Centre to Reconsider Pakistan Pilgrimage Travel Ban**
*By Snehil Singh | Sep 21, 2025, 12:48 PM*
Sikh organizations and political parties have called on the Indian government to rethink its recent decision to ban pilgrimage travel to Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had earlier advised states to halt processing applications for these journeys citing security concerns related to Pakistan.
This announcement has left many devotees disappointed. Among them is Kanwaljit Kaur Dhillon from Punjab’s Ludhiana district, who, along with her husband, was eagerly planning to visit Nankana Sahib to mark Guru Nanak Dev’s birth anniversary in November.
“If the game of cricket between two nations could be allowed, then why restrict us?” Dhillon questioned. She is one of approximately 1,900 applicants who submitted documents through the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) seeking permission for the pilgrimage.
**Demand for Reopening Kartarpur Corridor**
In addition to urging a reversal of the travel ban, Sikh organizations are demanding the reopening of the Kartarpur corridor. This sacred passageway, established in 2019 to facilitate pilgrimages, was temporarily closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and reopened in 2021. However, it was shut down again in May following India’s Operation Sindoor.
On May 9, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced the suspension of the corridor citing security concerns. The Ministry of External Affairs has yet to provide a timeline or clear indication of when it might reopen.
**Claims of Discrimination and Calls for Consistency**
Amarjit Singh, Director of the Sikh Studies Chair at Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar, questioned the government’s rationale, emphasizing that security risks would apply to all Sikhs worldwide, not just those from India.
Supporting this view, Dharam Singh, a former professor at Punjabi University Patiala, criticized the decision: “If India can play cricket with Pakistan, then why stop pilgrims?”
**SGPC’s Application Process Underway**
Before the advisory was issued, the SGPC had already begun collecting passports from devotees in July and submitting visa applications to the Pakistan High Commission. The organization has now formally requested the Centre to allow pilgrims to visit Nankana Sahib during the upcoming birth anniversary celebrations.
As the issue continues to generate significant concern among the Sikh community, many await a reconsideration of the policy to enable spiritual journeys to these historic sites.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/india/if-cricket-allowed-why-not-pilgrimages-to-pakistan-sikh-groups/story
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