From Abid Usman
LAHORE: A group of 100 male and female cyclists named “Critical Mass” from Lahore Monday visited Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur with a view to promote interfaith harmony and portray Pakistan’s soft image. The cycling group arrived at the Kartarpur Gurdwara as a rally and where they were warmly received by Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) member Sardar Inderjeet Singh.
The cyclists visited different parts of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib. Sardar Inderjeet Singh gave a briefing on Kartarpur Corridor to the cyclists.
The cycling group was also served at Baba Guru Nanak’s langar – free food served to the visitors of the Gurdwara by the administration.
Speaking on the occasion, Inderjeet Singh said, “We welcome the participants visiting the holy compound of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Karatarpur and hope they will spread their mission of interfaith harmony across the world.”
He added that they also expected that the cyclists group visiting the Kartarpur Gurdwara to spread the message of peace and Pakistan’s exemplary initiative of interfaith harmony in the form of Kartarpur Corridor. Group Leader Asma Omar said all minorities in Pakistan enjoyed full religious freedom. The participants of the bicycle rally also chanted slogans of “Long live Pakistan”.
In major bid of promoting interfaith harmony Prime Minister Imran Khan on November 9, 2019 inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor, a border corridor between Pakistan and India, connecting the Sikh shrines of Dera Baba Nanak Sahib and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.
A large number of Indian Sikhs on the inauguration day made historic pilgrimage, travelling visa-free, to one of their religion’s holiest sites under a landmark deal between the two countries. In his speech at the inaugural ceremony, the prime minister welcomed the Sikh pilgrims and lauded the FWO, laborers and all the people who worked on the project.
“I had no idea that my government is so efficient,” said the prime minister jokingly while commenting on the early completion of the Corridor Project.
Khan said he had realized the significance of Kartarpur only a year ago. “A leader always unites people, he will never divide them,” he said, adding that South Africans would never forget Nelson Mandela since he united his people.”Nobody thought there would ever be justice in South Africa,” he said.
The Pakistani leaders used the occasion to raise the issue of Occupied Kashmir where Indian forces have carried out a clamp down since August 5.
“We can resolve issue of Kashmir through dialogue,” he said. The prime minister expressed the hope that South Asian countries would also prosper by following in the footsteps of France and Germany.
