‘Cricket fine, then why not Sikh pilgrimage to Pakistan?’: Punjab parties, Akal Takht double down amid Centre’s travel curbs on jathas

The Congress too has raised questions, with its state president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring calling the restriction discriminatory. “If cricket matches are allowed, then the Sikh jathas should be allowed too. There shouldn’t be double standards. Sikh religious pilgrimages carry sentiments that need to be treated at par with other exchanges,” he said.

Amid the war of words, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi being presented a “siropa” during his visit to flood-affected areas flared up tensions further. The gesture, seen traditionally as an honour, came under flak from rivals with BJP leaders accusing the Congress of “politicising religious traditions”.

Defending the Centre’s decision, BJP’s Punjab unit Sunil Jakhar said, “What (PM Narendra) Modi has done for Sikhs perhaps no one else has done. So there is nothing against Sikhs or Punjab in this decision.” However, he admitted there could be “alternatives”. “If there were options to resolve it through dialogue, that should have happened… some kind of representative, a few people, could have been allowed.”

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accused the BJP of “targeting Punjab” through the restrictions. “Cricket matches can wait… even films can wait… but faith cannot wait,” he said. Mann also questioned if the restrictions were “against Pakistan or against the people”. “It is sad that our own government has been putting restrictions on us,” he said, urging Modi not to “play with the emotions of Punjabis”.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal termed the move “hurtful” and appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to reconsider the decision. “Sikh devotees have deep religious sentiments attached to visiting Sri Nankana Sahib. The Kartarpur Corridor should be opened,” he added.

The newly formed rebel SAD faction led by Giani Harpreet Singh reacted more sharply, calling the decision “an open insult to Sikh religious rights and a cruel act” while accusing the Centre of being a “puppet of the agencies”.

“When India-Pakistan cricket matches can be held, blocking Sikh yatris from visiting their sacred shrines is clear religious discrimination and oppression. Such restrictions were not imposed even in the darkest periods under Mughal rule and accused the government of turning into a puppet of agencies,” said Giani Harpreet Singh.