New Delhi, October 30
Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) President and Lok Sabha MP from Sangrur, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, has written to Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani to honour the Liaquat-Nehru Pact, which assures Sikhs the right to visit their shrines in Pakistan four times a year.

Mr Mann’s representation is timely as it comes 20 days before the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, which falls on November 19. Sikhs from all over the world assemble at Nankana Sahib in Pakistan on this day every year.

The senior Akali leader has drawn the attention of Mr Advani to promises made by Hindu leaders in 1947. ``When the Sikhs joined the Indian union in 1947, Hindu leaders like Gandhi and Nehru had given our leaders specific promises that our religion, culture, heritage and language would be totally protected and honoured by the majority Hindus. Over the years, these promises are being eroded and our rights have been totally negated,’’ the letter reads.

Mr Mann has further stated that the government is violating international treaties by not allowing Sikhs to go to Nankana Sahib this year. ``If Sikh pilgrims go to Pakistan this year, it will not only be India keeping its promises to the Sikh people, but also respecting international law and easing tensions between the two states by people-to-people contacts,’’ the letter states.

A member of the consultative committee, Ministry of External Affairs, Mr Mann told TNS here today that denial of permission to Sikhs to visit shrines in Pakistan amounted to interference in their religion.

``The restriction will embitter relations between the two-and-a-half crore Sikhs in the country and the Indian Government. There is a thaw. The Army has been withdrawn from the border. People-to-people contacts improve relations between countries,’’ he said.

He said Sikhs liked to visit shrines in Pakistan on Baisakhi, Guru Arjan Dev’s martyrdom day, Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary and the barsi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.