India Has Its Eye On Kartarpur Sahib In Pakistan: To Install Telescope At Border For Pilgrim Viewership

The Centre on Monday announced a host of measures to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh Guru; most notably, a high-powered telescope will be installed on the Indo-Pak border to enable devotees to view Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan, which is Guru Nanak’s final resting place, as per a report by The Indian Express.

As per a statement released by the Home Ministry, a high-powered telescope will be installed by the Ministry of Electronics and IT for devotees to observe the Sikh shrine, and a train will be allotted by the Railways to run through those places in Pakistan associated with the Sikh guru.

The issue of Kartarpur Sahib had recently come into limelight after Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu announced that Pakistani Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa had assured him that Pakistan would open a corridor for Sikh pilgrims to travel through to Kartarpur Sahib. Sidhu had come under sharp criticism when he had hugged General Bajwa while attending Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khans’ swearing-in ceremony.

The Human Resource Development Ministry will also be creating a national Institute for inter-faith studies, for which the Punjab government has promised to provide free land. The National Implementation Committee, chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, has also issued coins and postage stamps in Guru Nanak’s remembrance.

Indian Missions abroad will also organise various celebrations to mark the occasion. Sultanpur Lodhi, the birthplace of Guru Nanak, will also be developed as a heritage city by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, while the Railways will modernise the Sultanpur Lodhi railway station.