The recent decision by the government of Pakistan to impose a tax of $20 per person visiting Sikhism’s holy shrine Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Narowal district of Pakistan through the Kartarpur Corridor has been termed incorrect by members of the Sikh community.
“The proposed tax is wrong. Devout Sikhs go there for a darshan and pay their respects. It is a holy pilgrimage and taxing such a visit is not correct,” said Pratap Singh, Additional Secretary, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), Amritsar, which is responsible for the management of Gurdwaras in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh.
“No restrictions should be put on the pilgrims’ visit by the Pakistan government. It should be free. Because it is a matter of faith,” he said, speaking to The Hindu . The top management of the SGPC will take up the issue with the government as part of the negotiations, he added.
Sardar Pratap Singh was leading a yatra as part of the year-long celebrations on the occasion of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, Sikhism founder, which entered Hyderabad on Monday evening, received by thousands of devotees amidst slogans of ‘ Jo Bole so Nihal. Sat Sri Akaal ,’ and ‘ Raaj karega khalsa ’.
‘Pinches the poor’
Further, he said the SGPC welcomes any number of devotees from Pakistan for the scheduled celebrations from November 5 to 8 at Gurdwara Sultanpur Sahib in Kapurthala district, Punjab.
Echoing his sentiments, Gurmeet Singh from Hyderabad and Dharmendra Singh from Karimanagar said it is not proper. “The rich might not feel the pinch of such a tax. But many poor devotees for whom it is a lifetime desire to visit the holy shrine will not be able to afford it as it involves all the family members.”
