Navjot Singh Sidhu reaches Pakistan for Kartarpur ceremony

Sidhu arrived in response to the invitation extended to him by Foreign Minister Shah Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi last week, reported Dawn News even as Congress party ruling Punjab state in India now seemed to be divided over the issue with Chief Minister Singh lashing out at the Pakistan regime over export of terrorism and asking it to rein in its army. 

Sidhu said he was bringing a message of love and peace to Pakistan.

"90 per cent of people in India want bilateral cricket between the two countries," he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

"Art and artists work to bridge gaps among nations," he added.

In August this year when Imran Khan took oath as Prime Minister of Pakistan and Sidhu, a personal friend of the former Pakistan cricket captain from his cricketing days, visited Islamabad for the function and hugged Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa during the swearing-in ceremony, he came uder heavy attack in India by the Opposition. 

Sidhu had then defended himself saying Pakistan has assured him to open the Kartarpur corridor, a move considred very important for the Sikh pilgrims.  

Kartarpur is a small town in district Narowal, 4 km from the Pakistan- India border, where the founder of the Sikh religion, Baba Guru Nanak spent the last 18 years of his life.

Subsequently, Gurdwara Darbar Sahab was built at the site on the Pakistan side and Gurdwara Dera Baba Nanak in India, which are visited by thousands of Sikhs every year. 

As per the Pakistan Foreign Office statement: "Opening the corridor will allow Sikh Yatrees ease of access for their most reverential place of worship which has been their longstanding demand. This is also reflective of the importance and primacy that Pakistan gives to all minorities."

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the groundbreaking ceremony of the facilities at the crossing on the Pakistan side on Nov 28.