india

Updated: Nov 01, 2019 05:56 IST

The ministry of external affairs said on Thursday that those invited by Pakistan to the inaugural ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor will have to get a “political clearance”. The ministry was responding to questions on whether Congress leader Navjot Singh Sindhu, who has been invited by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, will be allowed.

“I think the political personalities or invitees who think they need to get a political clearance, and those not included in the list will know about it. There won’t be surprises,” the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told mediapersons.

“My understanding is that the normal rules for seeking political clearance for such visits will apply,” he added.

India’s jatha, whose list the country has shared with Pakistan, includes personalities from different sides of the political spectrum, including Union ministers and those from the Punjab government,” he said.

Sidhu is not included in the Congress delegation, which will be visiting the gurudwara on November 9.

The delegation includes former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Jyoraditya Scindia, RPN Singh, Asha Kumari, party’s chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala, Deepender Singh Hooda, and Jitin Prasad.

As per the normal procedure, a political visit needs clearance from the government.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan media reported that the country has invited Sidhu to attend the inaugural ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor.

Kartarpur Corridor will connect the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India’s Punjab with Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur in Pakistan’s Punjab. Khan is scheduled to inaugurate the Kartarpur Corridor on November 9, ahead of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak on November 12.

(With agency inputs)