*Sushma Swaraj can’t attend Kartarpur stone-laying due to preoccupation
*Earlier Pakistani FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi invited Sushma to attend ground breaking ceremony on November 28
ANDALIB AKHTER / NEW DELHI
In a dramatic turn of events India and Pakistan seem to be in mood of opening a new chapter in their relations. Both countries are responding positively to each other overtures.
Signs of thaw in ties between two neighbours have emerged over the issue of opening the Kartarpur Corridor.
The Indian government has nominated a team led by a senior minister to attend the corridor opening. Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Badal and Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Puri, incidentally both from the Sikh community will represent India at the event for which Navjot Sidhu of the Congress has already accepted the invitation.
In fact Pakistan has invited External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for the ceremony but she said she would be unable to attend the meeting. In a letter to her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who had invited her to attend the ground breaking ceremony on November 28, Swaraj said: “Due to my prior commitments, including election campaign scheduled in Telangana, I will not be able to travel to Kartarpur Sahib.”
Earlier, Qureshi in a tweet extended a formal invitation to the Modi government to be a part of the historic occasion mentioned: “On behalf of Pakistan, I have extended an invitation to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj @SushmaSwaraj ,Capt Amarinder Singh @capt_amarinder & Navjot Singh Sidhu @sherryontopp to attend the groundbreaking ceremony at #Kartarpura on 28 Nov, 2018. #PakistanKartarpuraSpirit.”
Qureshi has also sent invitation to the chief minister of Punjab, Capt Amarinder Singh and his minister and cricketer-turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu.
On behalf of Pakistan I have extended an invitation to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj @SushmaSwaraj ,Capt Amarinder Singh @capt_amarinder & Navjot Singh Sidhu @sherryontopp to attend the groundbreaking ceremony at #Kartarpura on 28 Nov, 2018.#PakistanKartarpuraSpirit
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) November 24, 2018
The Indian government, meanwhile, has instead nominated Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Badal and Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Puri, incidentally both from the Sikh community, to represent India at the event for which Navjot Sidhu of the Congress has accepted the invitation.
Sidhu’s hugging of Pakistani Army chief Bajwa during Imran Khan’s oath-taking ceremony as PM in August in Islamabad this year had led to a huge row with the government accusing Sidhu of being a stooge and not an interlocutor on the matter.
“It is our hope that the Pakistan government will expedite the construction of the corridor in order to ensure that our citizens can pay their respects at the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara using the corridor as soon as possible,”added Swaraj in her letter on Saturday.
I thank HE Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi Foreign Minister of Pakistan for inviting me to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor on the Pakistan side of the International boundary on 28 November 2018. /1
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) November 24, 2018
Since I am unable to travel to Kartarpur Sahib on the scheduled date, Government of India will be represented by my esteemed colleagues Mrs.Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Mr.H.S.Puri. /2
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) November 24, 2018
New Delhi had on Thursday decided to build a new border crossing and road connecting their respective Punjab provinces, making it easier for Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit a religious site in Pakistan.
The corridor will connect Dera Baba Nanak in Indian Punjab’s Gurdaspur to Kartarpur in Pakistan’s Narowal district where the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib — the shrine of revered saint Baba Guru Nanak — is situated.
Earlier India’s Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, Pakistan will be urged to reciprocate and develop a corridor with suitable facilities in their territory. In another major decision, the Union Cabinet has decided to develop the historic town of Sultanpur Lodhi as heritage town on Smart City principles.
The heritage complex at Sultanpur Lodhi, Pind Babe Nanak da will be developed to depict life in the times of Guru Nanak Devji. Sultanpur Lodhi railway station will be upgraded and developed.