Vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu laid the foundation stone for the construction of a road corridor linking Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan, which will help lakhs of Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit the holy place throughout the year.

Kartarpur Sahib in Narowal district of Pakistan’s Punjab province is located across the Ravi River and is about four km from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine. The demand to build a corridor linking India’s border district of Gurdaspur with the historic gurdwara, the final resting place of Sikhism’s founder Guru Nanak Dev, in Pakistan has been a long-pending demand of the Sikh community.

The Indian side of the corridor starts from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district of Punjab and extends up to the international border between India and Pakistan.

Highlights:

3:21 pm IST As Punjab CM and a Sikh I wanted Kartarpur corridor to happen: Amarinder Singh “That ( going to Pak) is his (Sidhu’s) wish, I can’t say anything. I only know my responsibility as CM and a Sikh so that is why we wanted this ( Kartarpur Corridor) to happen, but it is also my responsibility to maintain law and order and that prevents me from going (to Pak),” said Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh.





1:36 pm IST Punjab CM questions Pak army chief over cesefire violations and killing of soldiers I would like to ask Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Bajwa something, as a soldier. Which Army teaches to violate ceasefire and kill jawans on the other side? Which Army teaches to send ppl to attack Pathankot and Amritsar? This is cowardness: Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh





1:22 pm IST Kartarpur corridor will become symbol of love between both countries: Naidu “I am happy that Pakistan accepted the long-pending demand of Kartarpur corridor fulfilling the demands of Sikh community. Now, you would not have to take a long and arduous route through Attari border. The corridor will become a symbol of love and peace between both countries. Now, you would be able to visit the holy Kartarpur site directly,” said V-P Naidu.





1:15 pm IST This is a momentous, historic day: V-P Naidu This is a momentous and historic day that today we are fulfilling the wish of thousands of Sikh devotees,” says V-P Naidu





1:29 pm IST V-P Naidu lays foundation stone for Kartarpur corridor Vice-president laid foundation stone for Kartarpur corridor linking Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan.





1:33 pm IST Punjab CM warns Bajwa, says Pak won’t be allowed to vitiate atmosphere “I am warning you ( Pakistan army chief Qamar Bajwa), we are also Punjabis, you will not be allowed to enter here and vitiate the atmosphere,” said Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh





12:49 pm IST Kartarpur corridor will promote tourism in Punjab: Nitin Gadkari “The Kartarpur corridor will promote tourism in Punjab,” said minister for road transport & highways, shipping and water resources, river development & Ganga rejuvenation





12:38 pm IST Long wait of Sikh pilgrims over: Harsimrat Badal Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal while speaking at the event hailed PM Modi and said that with the corridor, the long wait of Sikh pilgrims is over now.





12:28 pm IST V-P Naidu arrives at event to lay the foundation stone for Karatarpur corridor Vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu arrives at the venue to lay the foundation stone for the construction of Dera Baba Nanak-Karatarpur Sahib road corridor. Punjab CM Amarinder Singh,Governor VP Badnore,Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Hardeep Puri and others are also present at the ceremony. Gurdaspur(Punjab): Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu to lay the foundation stone for the construction of Dera Baba Nanak-Karatarpur Sahib road corridor. Punjab CM Amarinder Singh,Governor VP Badnore,Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Hardeep Puri and others also present at the ceremony pic.twitter.com/OA7rvV3jHo — ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2018





10:40 am IST Corridor to provide easy access to devotees to pay obeisance: Arun Jaitley Today is a historic day, when foundation laying of Dera Baba Nanak-Kartarpur Sahib corridor is taking place. This day will be cherished in times to come when pilgrims will regularly visit the holy shrine across the international boarder hassle free, tweeted Union finance minister Arun Jaitley. Religious devotees in India will be facilitated by foundation laying of Dera Baba Nanak-Kartarpur Sahib road corridor up to international border with Pakistan. This corridor will provide easy access to devotees to pay obeisance at the historical and sacred shrines, added Jaitley.





10:05 am IST Kartarpur opening not a BJP-Akali event: Punjab minister SS Randhawa Just three hours ahead of the function to lay the foundation stone of a road which will link to the religiously significant Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara corridor, Punjab cabinet minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Monday appeared upset. Randhawa put black tape on the names of the ministers on the foundation stone. Punjab Minister SS Randhawa puts black tape on his,CM&other Punjab ministers' names on foundation stone.Says 'I did this in protest against Parkash&Sukhbir Badal's names on stone. Why is their name here? They are not part of executive, its not BJP-Akali event' #KartarpurCorridor pic.twitter.com/SoLhVIPWxI — ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2018





9:20 am IST Sushma Swaraj declines Pak invitation to attend groundbreaking ceremony In October, Pakistan had invited External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu for the stone foundation ceremony in Pakistan. Swaraj declined the invite and said that she would not be unable to travel. India said ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri would represent the ceremony in Pakistan.



