Sikh devotees who wish to visit Gurudwaras in Pakistan have got a big shock. In fact, 1481 devotees will not be able to join the group going on the occasion of the 555th Guruparv of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Pakistan has refused to give visa to these pilgrims.
Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, President of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, has objected to this. He said that the Shiromani Committee had sent passports of 2,244 pilgrims to the Pakistan Embassy in Delhi, out of which it is very unfortunate that 1481 were not given visas.
Sentiments of devotees were hurt
Shiromani Committee always used to get visas according to the quota in the group, but it is sad that this time the sentiments have been hurt by reducing the number of devotees in such a large number. He said that the governments of both the countries should pay special attention to this. The Shiromani Committee President said that he has raised this matter before the governments earlier also.
3 thousand devotees went for darshan in 2023
Sadly, more number of pilgrims than ever before were denied visas. He said that this matter will be raised before the governments of both the countries. In the year 2023, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev ji was celebrated from 25 November to 4 December. For which about 3 thousand devotees from India went for darshan.
Pakistan gives visa under the 1974 agreement
Every year, groups of Sikh devotees visit Pakistan to celebrate the Prakash Parv of Guru Nanak Ji, Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji and death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. For this, the Government of Pakistan provides visa to Sikh pilgrims every year under the 1974 protocol.