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Experienced bliss, says Ashwani Sharma on return from Kartarpur
Will pray for brotherhood and peace in Punjab, says BJP leader Ashwani Sharma, hours before chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi-led cabinet was to leave for Sikh shrine on eve of Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary
A 21-member jatha (group) of the Punjab BJP unit, led by state unit president Ashwani Kumar Sharma, visited Gurdwara Darbar Sahib via the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor in Pakistan on Thursday morning two hours before chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi-led Punjab Cabinet was scheduled to visit the last resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev.
“I experienced a different kind of bliss and calmness at the gurdwara. Delegation of the BJP has offered there a prayer for high spirit and prosperity of Punjab, apart from the wellbeing of all. We also did ardas for peace and brotherhood in the state, besides seeking our country getting prosperous and most powerful in the world,” Sharma said on his return.
“Prime Minister Modi has provided us the opportunity of paying obeisance at the gurdwara by reopening this corridor after the pandemic eased. This corridor has been reopened in view of the devotion of the Sikh sangat (community),” he had said before leaving for the shrine, where Guru Nanak spent 17 years of his life.
Replying to a query on the arrangements and treatment of officials on the Pakistan side, he said, “What a wonderful environment there was! It was full of tranquility. I would like to ask all to avail this opportunity to visit this pious place. I am sure anyone visiting this place will experience a positive energy there.”
A visa-free access to the Sikh shrine was a long-pending demand of the Indian Sikh community. The corridor was opened in November 2019 to commemorate the 550th Parkash Gurpurb (birth anniversary) of Guru Nanak Dev. It was closed after four months when the Covid-19 pandemic reached India and Pakistan.
