AMRITSAR: In a bid to fan the

during visit of the Sikhs from across the world at Nanakana Sahib,

(ETPB) and

(PSGPC) “welcomed” the Indian devotees with slogans and posters of Khalistan.

According to intelligence sources, ETPB and PSGPC had displayed the posters eulogizing Khalistan with photographs of PSGPC’s controversial general secretary Gopal Singh Chawal and Sikh For Justices legal adviser Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is spearheading the anti-India ‘Referendum 2020’ movement seeking separation of Punjab from the rest of India.

Over 3,000-strong Sikh jatha (group of pilgrims) left for Pakistan to celebrate the 549th birth anniversary of founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev at his birthplace Nankana Sahib from Attari border on Wednesday. More than 10,000 Sikh devotees had already converged at Nanakana Sahib from various other countries to participate in the celebrations and also begin the year-long celebrations for the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev in 2019.

According to sources, the Indian Sikh jatha arrived at Nankana Sahib where posters of Khalistan were displayed. “As the Sikh jatha arrived at Nankana Sahib, many local Sikhs started raising pro-Khalistan slogans, which were opposed by the Indian jatha members,” sources said, adding that a function was held to promote the Sikh-Muslim fraternity in Pakistan. A joint function was held at

Nanaka Sahib to celebrate the birth anniversary of prophet Mohammad on Eid Milad-un-Nabi.

Sources added that the PSGPC had chalked out a programme of Sikh devotees visit to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib on November 28. “The visit to Kartapur Sahib is planned only for a few hours. We are of view that some of the Pakistan’s leading politician or army general could visit the Kartarpur Sahib and make some symbolic gesture for the construction of Kartarpur Sahib corridor,” they added.