AMRITSAR: As demands for corridor has escalated and the issue is being taken up by India and Pakistan at several levels, the Sikh devotees at Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib sought removal of a bomb shell-mounted concrete pillar which Pakistan government claims was fired by Indian air force during 1971 Indo-Pak war.

A UK resident Ravinder Singh, currently on a visit to India, told TOI on Wednesday that he had visited Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in July and saw the ‘bomb memorial’ erected close to the Gurdwara by Pakistan government.

He also showed a photograph of a plaque that reads: This bomb was fired by Indian Air Force in 1971 with the aim to destroy Sri Darbar Sahib but with the blessings of Wahae Guru Ji (Allaha Subha-e-Tala), the bomb landed into the Khoo Sahib(Well). Thus averted the destruction. This is the same well from where Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji used to water his fields”

He said with the visit of Indian high commission to Pakistan to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib on Wednesday, it was clear that both governments were serious about opening the corridor. “In such an event Pakistan government should immediately remove the ‘bomb memorial’ from near the Gurdwara to pave way for a cordial atmosphere”.

Another Sikh devotee from Delhi, who had visited Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib early this year informed that since Pakistan was a sovereign state so they had to decide where and what memorial should be erected and Indian had no right to intervene in its internal matter.

“But the opening of a corridor is a different matter, it symbolises peace, harmony, and brotherhood. The Indian Sikhs, especially young boys, visiting the Gurdwara through a peace corridor would have an adverse impact on their fragile minds so it should be removed,” she said.

A Sikh devotee Swaran Singh said that Sikh bodies who takes jatha’s to Pakistan on various religious occasions should also take up the issue of removal of memorial before the opening of the corridor. “The removal of pillar and plaque can be dedicated to the peace message of Guru Nanak Dev” he opined.

