Kartarpur Sahib Corridor — The $20 fees and everything else that is political about it
Sikhs, both in India and abroad have expressed their happiness and gratitude towards India and Pakistan for opening up the Kartarpur Sahib corridor. A 4 Km road that connects India to its history that was taken away at the time of partition in 1947, it has become a reason for Sikhs, and Punjabis in general to visit, and rejoice in the blessings of Guru Nanak Dev. Kartarpur Sahib, the resting place of the founder of Sikhism, is however, also suffering from the incorporation of subtle political agendas alongside.
The video which was released by Pakistan claiming to be the welcome song for Kartarpur corridor had visuals of slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, among his close aids. It also exhibited ‘Referendum 2020’ below their images, the banner of the campaign by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) strengthening the entanglement of Pakistan in the Khalistani propaganda. What further draws the claim of the Referendum 2020 being backed by Pakistan was the recent news of Sikhs for Justice reimbursing the $20 Kartarpur Sahib Corridor fees for pilgrims who visit Gurudwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur. How? Let’s understand.
The foremost question that arose was with Pakistan putting the $20 fees on pilgrims visiting Kartarpur Sahib Corridor. The idea of charging people to visit a place of worship of their own religion seems vague and it was criticized across the globe, not only by the Sikh community, but by international media as well. The announcement by SFJ to reimburse the Kartarpur Sahib corridor fees, further brought to notice the pilgrims’ concern of paying a sum equivalent to ₹1436.
Now, if Sikhs for Justice is a human rights organization being taken care of by multiple individuals with no apparent source of income generation, where is the money being distributed coming from? Is Pakistan actually charging $20 for the facilities at Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, or is it the pilgrims’ money that is being returned to them using a different route?
Likewise, concerns that had been raised over the pressing of Khalistani ideology by Pakistan well ahead of the opening of the corridor, also came to life with the display of a bomb in the gurudwara complex, that was said to be a relic of the 1971 Indo-Pak war. Below the glass-caged remnant for visitors, which appears to be very strategically placed, is a plaque that says:
“Indian Air Force dropped this Bomb during 1971 at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Sri Kartarpur Sahib with the aim to destroy it. However, this evil design could not be materialized due to blessing of Waheguru Ji (Almighty Allah). The said bomb landed into Sri Khoo Sahib (Sacred Well) and this Darbar Sahib remained unhurt (sic). It is pertinent to mention that this is the same sacred well from where Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji used to get water to irrigate his fields.”
The bomb, according to many who have so far used the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, is mere politicking. The display of the war fragment has been received with offence, and is being criticized for marring the sanctity of the gurudwara that holds much relevance for Sikhs and Punjabis. A moment that brought the devotees close to the shrine that had been away for the past seven decades, is being cherished; but is also being looked at through a critical lens because of the Khalistani related activities that are underlining hurt for the Sikh community.
In times like these, when the Sikh community is trying to revel in the blessings of their guru after the opening of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, they are afraid of the political bubble bursting with inauspicious consequences. It is now up to Pakistan to free their ties with any such organizations like Sikhs for Justice or individuals who believe in secessionist theologies, and also remove the $20 fees along with the bomb displayed to testify their love for the Sikh sangat that is visiting their long lost home.
