New Delhi, October 27
The Union Home Ministry today issued an advisory to Indian citizens, particularly Sikh pilgrims slated to visit Nankana Sahib on the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev on November 2, asking them not to travel to Pakistan in view of the deteriorating security condition there.
Earlier, the government had decided that no “jatha” (official delegation) would be visiting Nankana Sahib — where Guru Nanak Dev was born — this year. Each year, around 3,000 pilgrims apply through a government-run scheme for a visit to the shrine, which is located in Pakistani part of Punjab. Therefore, only those persons who have directly applied for visas to Pakistan would be going to Nankana Sahib this year. Officials here estimate the number could be anywhere between 1,200 and 1,500.
And following the advisory, the number of persons wanting to visit the neighbouring nation could even fall further, opined the president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, PS Sarna.
“Government of India is of the view that it is not advisable for Indian pilgrims to visit Pakistan in the prevailing situation when frequent terrorist attacks are taking place in Punjab province of Pakistan, where all gurdwaras are
situated.”
