India denies permission to Sikh pilgrims for visiting Pakistan

India has denied permission to one thousand Sikh pilgrims to visit Pakistan through Wagha Border.

According to Spokesman of Evacuee Trust Property Board, these pilgrims were scheduled to take part in their religious Saka Festival at Gurdwara Janamasthan at Nankana Sahib on Sunday, for which all arrangements have already been finalized.

Evacuee Trust Property Board Spokesman said that the Sikh community members will stage a protest at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore, on Indian authorities not allowing pilgrims to reach Pakistan today.

On the other hand, according to a media report; the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of India cited the security and coronavirus situation in Pakistan for the denial of 600 pilgrims.

In a letter to the managing body of the Sikh place of worship in India, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the MHA said the security situation in Pakistan continues to be worsening and a threat to Indian citizens.

The letter stated that, “Traffic on India-Pakistan international border remains suspended since March, 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic. Pakistan has so far recorded over half a million cases with 10,000 deaths due to Covid.”

It added that, “Considering the capacity of the health infrastructure, it is not advisable for a large group of our citizens to visit Pakistan for a week during the pandemic.”