Kurukshetra, June 12
Ninety four Sikh pilgrims from Haryana were forced to return from the Attari Wagah international border after they allegedly failed to receive final security clearance from the Centre in time despite holding valid visas for Pakistan.
The pilgrims were part of a jatha travelling to Pakistan to pay obeisance at historic Sikh shrines on the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev.
Sikh organisations accused both the Haryana government and the Centre of delays in completing the verification and approval process required for the pilgrimage.
The Akal Panthak Morcha alleged that the delay in security clearance from the Centre prevented the pilgrims from travelling even after visas had been issued. The organisation also claimed that the verification report from the Haryana government was submitted late, which delayed the final approval process.
The group reportedly waited at the Attari border in Punjab’s Amritsar district until late Wednesday before deciding to return home.
Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee president Jagdish Singh Jhinda said the notification for the pilgrimage was issued on 1 June, while the committee received it on 3 June, leaving limited time to complete documentation and related formalities.
He said the file was forwarded to the Centre after the state verification process was completed, but the required clearance did not arrive in time.
Meanwhile, a separate group of more than 500 Sikh pilgrims, sponsored by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, successfully crossed into Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah border on Wednesday.
The pilgrims are visiting historic Sikh shrines in Pakistan to mark the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev. Authorities expected around 700 pilgrims to travel as part of different jathas organised by Sikh bodies including the SGPC, Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee.
