Jatha back with bitter experience

Pannu said here that pilgrims were kept under strict surveillance and they were virtually confined to their rooms in Gurudwara Nankana Sahib near Lahore where a congregation was held to celebrate the 529th birth day of Guru Nanak Devji.

He said contrary to previous practice, the Sikhs were not allowed to visit Rawalpindi and other places of tourist interest in the periphery. He said they were surprised at the sudden change in attitude of Pakistani authorities.

Pannu further said that Wakf Board authorities who manage the Sikh shrines in Pakistan had been using insulting language with them, and the height of their hostility was seen when they disallowed the SGPC officials to collect offerings in Nankana Sahib Gurudawara. He said Pakistani authorities were seen inclined to hand over control of Sikh shrines there to a body formed by Ganga Singh Dhillon.

The pilgrims said that many militant organisations like Dal Khalsa, Khalistan Commando Force and International Sikh Federation had displayed mottos of their 8220;goal8221; around the congregation venue. The banners and printed material distributed in gurdwara flayed the Punjab Government for playing in hands of the BJP.

A pilgrim from Ludhiana said intelligence personnel followed them like shadow. he pilgrims who went for shopping in Lahore said they were not allowed to talk freely to local residents.