‘Highly condemnable’, says India as Pak takes management rights of Kartarpur Sahib from PSGPC

Hours after Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) lost the management of Gurdwara Kartarpur to Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) of Pakistan. India termed the decision as “unilateral” saying the decision hurts the feelings of the Sikh community.

In its statement, the MEA condemning the unilateral decision by Pakistan said it runs against the spirit of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor as also the religious sentiments of the Sikh community at large.

We have seen reports about Pakistan transferring the management and maintenance of the Holy Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib away from the Pakistan Sikh Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee (PSGPC), a body run by the minority Sikh Community, to the administrative control of the Evacuee Trust Property Board, a non-Sikh body.

This unilateral decision by Pakistan is highly condemnable and runs against the spirit of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor as also the religious sentiments of the Sikh community at large. We have received representations from the Sikh community expressing grave concern at this decision by Pakistan targeting the rights of the minority Sikh community in Pakistan. Such actions only expose the reality of the Pakistani government and its leadership’s tall claims of preserving and protecting the rights and welfare of the religious minority communities. Pakistan is called upon to reverse its arbitrary decision to deprive the Sikh minority community it’s right to manage affairs of the Holy Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib.

“Pakistan is called upon to reverse its arbitrary decision to deprive the Sikh minority community it’s right to manage affairs of the Holy Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib,” the MEA said.

Reacting to this DSGMC President Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, It’s unfortunate that Pakistan cabinet has handed over Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur’s management to an ISI organisation ETPB from Pakistan Gurudwara Committee, which is a Sikh organisation. A non-Sikh body will control historic Gurudwara.