The Punjab Assembly, led by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, on Monday unanimously passed a resolution to press the Central government to pursue with Pakistan the issue of opening of Kartarpur corridor during the 550th birthday celebrations of the first Sikh Guru Nanak Dev.
The resolution was moved by the CM on the second day of the monsoon session of the Assembly. All members of the House, cutting across party lines, were unanimously of the view that the opening of the corridor would enable millions of Indian devotees to pay obeisance at the historic gurudwara.
The Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara, where the first Sikh Guru spent the last years of his life, is located in Pakistan across the international border, though it is clearly visible from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district.
Moving the resolution, the CM informed the House that he had already written to the Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to take up the issue with her Pakistani counterpart.
The Punjab government, he said, had been urging the Government of India, time and again, to take up the matter with Islamabad. The opening of the corridor was a cherished dream of the Sikh community, the CM said.
In his letter to the Union minister, Amarinder had observed that in pursuance of the long-standing demand, former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had made an announcement to this effect at Amritsar on 1st September 2004 on the occasion of the 400th Anniversary of Prakash Utsav of Guru Guru Granth Sahib.
He had reiterated the same during his subsequent visits to the state in 2005 and 2006. However, despite best efforts this has not materialised, said the CM, urging Sushma to make personal efforts in the matter.