Pilgrims face hostility from pak authorities

The 89 Hindu pilgrims, including 13 women, had gone to Pakistan on November 16 and returned on November 23. The group was led by Mathra Dass Arora, president of Sanatam Dharam Sabha of Punjab and Delhi. The president of All India Shiv Sena, Surinder Kumar Billa today said that attitude of Pakistani authorities was highly provocative and Central government should warn them against humiliating Indian pilgrims.

Billa said Pakistani custom authorities literally robbed a Chandigarh- based woman of all her belongings. He said pilgrims travelling in Samjhauta Express faced the hostile behaviour of Pakistani authorities throughout the journey. He said train carrying pilgrims was stopped at a deserted place and security authorities took them to Lakshamanpur where they were lodged in a single room.

Saying that no suitable arrangements for the stay of pilgrims were made, Billa said tea was given for Rs 10 per cup. He said pilgrims had to shell out Rs 76,000 as fare of three buses, hired for local travel to temple.

The pilgrims told media persons that they had seen a mosque coming up near the Katasraj temple. They said during a visit to Gurdawara Nankana Sahib, they found that no granthi priest was available there.