PM Modi landed in Sultanpur Lodhi and paid obeisance at the Gurdwara Ber Sahib. (Express Photo: Gurmeet Singh)
Kartarpur Corridor Inauguration Today Today HIGHLIGHTS: Kartarpur Corridor, connecting Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India’s Punjab with Darbar Sahib — also called Kartarpur Sahib — in Narowal district in Pakistan’s Punjab, was thrown open on Saturday facilitating the first batch of more than 550 pilgrims to travel to the last resting place of Guru Nanak Dev. Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the pilgrimage and handed over the flag of the Jatha to Jathedar Akal Takht. While addressing a public gathering at Dera Bab Nanak, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked all who have been associated with the project. He also thanked Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for understanding Indian sentiments and cooperating with Modi-government in this project.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated the Kartarpur corridor and said he hoped that the opening of the Kartarpur corridor will generate goodwill among the Sikh community spread all over the world. Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu Saturday thanked the prime ministers of India and Pakistan for the opening of the Kartarpur corridor and said that it was an ointment on the wounds of the people who witnessed bloodbath during the partition.
A view of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur, also called Kartarpur Sahib. (Photo: Twitter @Imran Khan)
The US on Saturday welcomed the opening of the Kartarpur corridor, saying that it sees the initiative as a positive example of neighbours working together for mutual benefit. The US “welcomes the opening of a new border crossing” between India and Pakistan, “the Kartarpur corridor,” US State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said in a video posted on her official twitter handle. The US “welcomes the opening of a new border crossing” between India and Pakistan, “the Kartarpur corridor,” US State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said in a video posted on her official twitter handle. (PTI)
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated the Kartarpur corridor and hoped that the corridor will generate goodwill among the Sikh community. He raked up the Kashmir issue and said ensuring "justice" to Kashmiris will open new channels of communication between India and Pakistan.
Around 562 pigrims visited crossed over to Pakistan to offer prayers at the Gurudwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on its inaugural day on Saturday, Home Ministry officials said.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday said that the opening of the Kartarpur corridor will "enormously improve" relations between India and Pakistan. Singh arrived in Kartarpur as the first batch of Indian Sikh pilgrims who entered Pakistan through the corridor.
Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu Saturday thanked the prime ministers of India and Pakistan for the opening of the Kartarpur corridor and said that it was an ointment on the wounds of the people who witnessed bloodbath during the partition. He said that Imran Khan is the first Pakistani prime minister who took this initiative selflessly and praised him in poetic verses for his friendship and leadership.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday said that the Berlin Wall was also brought down on this day, 9th November and the Kartarpur Corridor was also inaugurated today. Adding that the Ayodhya verdict also came today, he said, "This date gives us the message to stay united and move forward."
After visiting Kartarpur Corridor, former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, "It was a good beginning, India-Pakistan relations are subject to many buts and ifs, I hope this is a good beginning to normalise our relation." Voicing similar hope, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also said that the visit was a good experience and said that he hoped for the Corridor to become a corridor of peace between the two countries.
Inaugurating the Kartarpur Corridor, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan addressed a gathering of 12,000 devotees including former Indian PM Manmohan Singh and Punjab MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu. "I was not aware of the importance of the Kartarpur till a year ago," Khan said. He inaugurated the corridor by removing a curtain that was lifted by hot air balloons. A huge 'kirpan' (dagger) was displayed at the inauguration site.
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"If Berlin Wall could fall, Kartarpur corridor opened, peace also can be initiated," says Pak FM
Talking at the inauguration, Pakistan Foreign Minister Qureshi citing Kartarpur as an example, said, "PM Narendra Modi must open Kashmir's Jamia Masjid so that the Muslims of Kashmir can offer their prayers there."
After lauding Imran Khan's efforts on opening Kartarpur corridor, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi urged PM Narendra Modi also to do the same.
Congratulating Imran Khan for the move, Qureshi added: "If we had this will earlier, to open up corridors of peace and love, South Asia would not be in poverty and conflict. But let this be a beginning. PM @ImranKhanPTI, I congratulate you."
On the Kartarpur Corridor opening, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi says: "I wish today, this message of love spreads to Kashmir and our voice reaches there as well. In this era, Pakistan is working on two regional initiatives. One is economic corridor with CPEC, and one is for peace and love which #KartarpurCorridor symbolises today."
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has arrived at Gurdwara to inaugurate the Kartarpur Corridor. Punjab MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu is also seen accompanying him.
The opening of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor offers a great opportunity for the Sikh community to bring India and Pakistan together in these testing times, the leader of the UAE's Sikh community said, thanking the leaders of both the countries for the momentous occasion.
Surender Singh Kandhari said Kartarpur was of historic and religious significance for Sikhs as this is where the founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev took his last breath. "We consider this of the same importance as the Nankana Sahib Pakistan, the birth place of Guru Nanak Dev Ji," he said. (PTI)
PM Modi handed over the flag of Jatha to Jathedar Akal Takht. (Express Photos)
"We should be thankful to people of Pakistan for opening of corridor. Imran Khan opened it because of Pakistan people’s faith in Guru Nanak. The leaders of our country left no stone unturned that it is not opened. They called the dollar 20 fee jazia while we pay so much money as toll taxes on the roads," HS Phoolka, leader of Opposition Punjab Legislative Assembly.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with former prime minister Manmohan Singh at inauguration of the Integrated Check Post of Kartarpur Corridor.