New Delhi, November 5
Even as the Vajpayee government is “actively considering” the request for granting permission to a jatha to visit Nankana Sahib in Pakistan to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak on November 19, leaders of the Sikh community are becoming anxious that time for making preparations may be running out.
Highly placed sources in the Union Home Ministry said here this evening that it might take the Centre another day or two to firm up its mind one way or the other.
It is apparent that opinion is sharply divided in the higher echelons of the Vajpayee government about allowing a jatha to visit Pakistan on the occasion of Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary.
This is particularly so because India has severed all ties, including sporting ones, with Pakistan for its intransigence in continuing to encourage cross-border terrorism.
The question doing the rounds among decision-makers is whether it will be prudent to grant permission to a jatha to visit Nankana Sahib in Pakistan at this juncture when bilateral relations between the two neighbours has hit the rock bottom.
Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister L.K. Advani, who met National Commission for Minorities Vice-Chairman Tarlochan Singh and others on Saturday, asked them to meet him today after the Divali festivities. SAD (Amritsar) chief Simranjit Singh Mann had also impressed upon Mr Advani that the Union Government should grant permission to a jatha to visit Nankana Sahib in Pakistan.
Despite several attempts by Mr Tarlochan Singh and Mr Mann to contact Mr Advani during the day, their efforts were in vain.
There is a feeling of helplessness among the Sikh community that time is running short as lot of preparations have to be done for the jatha to reach Nankana Sahib at least 72 hours before November 19.
They find the delay in granting permission to a jatha to Pakistan perplexing, especially when Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Mr Advani appeared to have taken a positive view on Saturday.
If the jatha needs to be in Pakistan by November 16, it has barely 10 days to draw up the composition of the jatha, secure the necessary clearances from the Union Home Ministry, apply for visas and make other arrangements to cross into Pakistan by road from the Wagah border as train services have been discontinued due to various factors.
Leaders of the Sikh community insist that the Vajpayee government should view the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak at Nankana Sahib in a different perspective and in the larger national interest.
They contend that disallowing a jatha to visit Pakistan will send a wrong signal. This is particularly so because members of the Sikh community from all over the world will congregate at Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, it is argued.
