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Pakistan second home to Sikhs |
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Written by By Arslan Rafiq Bhatti, Daily Times.com, Lahore
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Thursday, 27 September 2007 |
 Sardar Jagjit Singh Bhullar, the secretary of the International Bhai Mardana Yadgari Kirtan Darbar Society (Indian Punjab), said on Monday that Sikh pilgrims, who came to Pakistan to visit their holy sites, felt comfortable here. “Only visa restrictions force them to return home,” he told Daily Times at Gurdawara Dera Sahib.
Bhullar said the Pakistan Sikh Gurdawara Prabhandhak Committee (PSGPC) had done ‘miracles’ in improving the condition of gurdawaras across Pakistan. He said he had visited all gurdawaras including Gurdawara Janamasthan, Gurdawara Kartarpur Sahib, Gurdawara Panja Sahib and found them in excellent condition. He said the PSGPC had renovated all holy sites in a short time. He said the langars (charity meal) at all gurdawaras were so good that he doubted the langars back home were of the same quality. He said the food offered at the gurdawaras was ‘exquisite’. He praised PSGPC adviser Bhai Sham Singh and langar controller Veer Gee, saying their services would never be forgotten.
People-to-people contact important for friendly relations: He said people-to-people contact were important to improve relations between India and Pakistan. He said hardliners on both sides wanted to create a misunderstanding for vested interests. He said it was the people’s moral duty to reject such elements.
Visa offices in Lahore and Amritsar: He said a visa counter should be set at Amritsar and Lahore. He said India and Pakistan were making ‘substantial’ progress in restoring mutual trust through confidence building measures.
Gill praises Evacuee Trust Property Board: Sardar Swaran Singh Gill, president of the Nankana Sahib Sikh Yatree Jatha, Amritsar, said, “I have found so much love in Pakistan that I do not want to go back.” He said he had visited all main gurdawaras and found them in excellent condition. He said he was thankful to the Evacuee Trust Property Board and the PSGPC for the good job they had done. He said the people of the two countries wanted close relations, but a few politicians disapproved of them.
He said the two countries should issue visas at the point of entry instead New Delhi and Islamabad, as the elderly found it difficult to travel to their respective capitals. The Sikh pilgrims will leave for India today (Tuesday) after a five-day visit.
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