Media Center

QUESTION NO.456 INCLUSION OF KARTARPUR SAHIB IN INDIAN TERRITORY

February 07, 2019

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.456
TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2019

INCLUSION OF KARTARPUR SAHIB IN INDIAN TERRITORY

456. SHRI AMAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether Government has taken up the matter with Government of Pakistan relating to inclusion of Kartarpur Sahib area in our territory to correct the mistake of 1947 by the then Government;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) what is the response of Government of Pakistan in this regard?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) to (c) The Union Cabinet, on 22 November 2018, passed a Resolution to celebrate the 550th Birth Anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Devji in 2019 and inter alia approved building and development of Kartarpur Corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur District to the International Border on the Indian side to facilitate pilgrims from India to visit Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan. On the same day, the Government of India informed the Government of Pakistan of its decision to build Kartarpur Corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur District of India to the International Border and urged Pakistan to recognise the sentiments of the Sikh community and to develop a corridor with suitable facilities in their territory from the International Border to Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib. The Government of Pakistan in response has agreed to build a corridor in its territory from Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib to the International Border.

Hon’ble Vice President of India laid the foundation stone for the construction of the corridor on the Indian side on 26 November 2018. Union Minister of Food Processing Industries and Minister of State (IC) for Housing and Urban Affairs attended the ground breaking ceremony for development of Kartarpur Corridor on the Pakistan side on 28 November 2018 as representatives of the Government of India.

On 22 January 2019 the Government shared the coordinates of the Zero Point (crossing point) of the corridor along the International Border with Pakistan and also invited a delegation from Pakistan, proposing two set of dates, 26 February and 7 March 2019, to discuss and finalise the modalities so that Indian pilgrims can visit the holy Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib using the corridor at the earliest.

*****

Write a Comment Write a Comment
Comments

Post A Comment

  • Name *
    E-mail *
  • Write Your Comment *
  • Verification Code * Verification Code