Pakistan Blames India For Not Allowing Its Train To Bring Sikh Pilgrims

Lahore, June 15, 2019:

Pakistan on Friday blamed India for ‘refusing’ to let its train cross the border and bring some 200 Sikh travellers to Lahore for Jore Mela festivities.

According to media reports, Pakistan had issued visas to some 200 Indian Sikhs to attend the Jore Mela which is held on the occasion of death anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev.

The Sikh travellers were due to arrive Lahore by a Pakistani train on Friday.

But the Indian government refused to allow the Pakistani train to enter its territory to bring the Sikh travellers to Lahore, the report said.

According to Amir Hashmi, spokesperson for Evacuee Trust Property Board Indian authorities gave no reason for their refusal.

The ETPB is a government department that looks after the affairs and holy places of minorities in Pakistan.

Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandhik Committee (PSGPC) president Tara Singh said the Indian decision has disappointed the Sikh community in Pakistan.

On June 16, 1606, Guru Arjan Dev died after being tortured by the government of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, according to the Sikh Coalition. He was tortured for five days, and on the sixth day, he was taken for a bath in the river and never seen again.

The holiday is usually celebrated with a cover-to-cover reading of the Sikh holy book — or Sri Guru Granth Sahib — concluding on June 16 with musical recitation of hymns from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib and lectures on Sikhism, according to Sikhs.org.

Keep following Inside Northeast on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram. Do download our app from the Google Playstore for the latest news updates, views, and entertainment on the go. We deliver the Northeast.