- Pilgrims handed over passports with visa, preparations complete
Amritsar: Going for pilgrimage to celebrate Prakash Gurpurb (birth anniversary) of Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, Pakistan, 910 pilgrims were granted visas as part of jatha of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which will depart for Pakistan on Sunday. The SGPC has completed all the arrangements for sending this jatha.
Meanwhile, today the pilgrims have received their passports with visas from the SGPC office. SGPC secretary Partap Singh said that the passports of 1,496 pilgrims were sent for visa approval to Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, out of which the embassy has issued visas to 910 pilgrims. He said 586 pilgrims were not granted visas by Pakistan embassy.
Secretary Partap Singh objected that the cancellation of visas of Sikh pilgrims is unfortunate. "When pilgrims do not get visas, their religious sentiments are hurt", said Partap Singh. He said the preparations for departure of SGPC jatha are complete.
He informed that this Jatha is being led by former SGPC member Master Preet Singh, while in-charge Varinder Singh Tharu and Harpal Singh have been deputed as managers of Jatha by SGPC.
On the occasion of distribution of passports to the pilgrims, in-charge of SGPC Yatra Department Rajinder Singh said that the Jatha will depart for Pakistan on November 6 at 8:30 am from the SGPC office. He said those pilgrims who could not get their passports today should get them in the morning on Sunday before the departure of the jatha. SGPC superintendent Malkeet Singh was also present on this occasion.