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3,000 Sikhs to visit Guru Nanak's birthplace in Pakistan

About 3,000 people will ignore appeals by Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee against sending jathas (pilgrims groups) to Pakistan, by undertaking a pilgrimage to celebrate Guru Nanak Dev's birthday on November 11 at his birthplace Nankana Sahib in Pakistan.

Those leading various jathas include former Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee president and Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal leader Paramjit Singh Sarna and Sant Samaj president Baba Mangal Singh.

Baba Mangal Singh said former Akal Takht Jathedar Prof Darshan Singh Ragi would also lead a small jatha to Pakistan. An Akali Dal (Amritsar) jatha will also be reaching Nankana Sahib for the celebrations.

The Baba told newspersons in Amritsar Friday that he would be leading a 500-strong jatha. The Pakistan Embassy in New Delhi had already issued visas for the pilgrimage, he said.

The SGPC had decided against sending jathas to Pakistan to protest against the formation of Pakistan Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee last year to manage Sikh historical shrines in that country. The SGPC, which was managing visits to shrines across the border, had refused to recognise the PGPC.

Baba Mangal Singh said PGPC co-chairman Bhai Sham Singh had extended a personal invitation to the Sant Samaj for the Gurpurab celebrations.

He said his jatha will leave for Pakistan by the Lahore-bound Samjhauta Express from Attari on November 6. The jatha will also visit gurdwaras at Panja Sahib and Dera Sahib in Lahore.

UNI

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