April.22 , 2003
AN APPEAL TO ALL THE CANDIDATES IN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS
Sir/Madam,
You are a candidate to serve the Punjabis' interest through Parliament. We
are confident that you are aware that Punjab is a garden of Guru Nanak
where every individual sheds a fragrance of his universal love. Sir/Madam
we hope that you are aware that for the last 56 years the Punjabis are not
able to pay their obeisance to the last abode of this greatest prophet of
mankind.
You are aware that Guru Nanak throughout his life was always on the move
but in the end he stayed at Kartarpur for 18 long years. Incidentally this
Kartarpur is situated on Indo-Pak border but within Pakistan territory;
just 2kms deep on the right bank of river Ravi and is visible from Indian
side.
On the persistent demand of Sikhs the Pakistan Govt has agreed to grant a
free corridor from Indian border to the shrine for which no visa or
passport is required. This offer was made by Pakistan in the year 2000 and
repeated several times there after. But unfortunately it has not been
welcomed by the Indian leaders in the appropriate measure. Though Prime
Minister Sh. Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister Sh. Lal
Krishan Advani both seemed personally in its favour but as you know there
are certain fanatic quarters both in India and Pakistan who oppose any
such move which bring the two people closure. Unfortunately our top
Punjabi leadership has also fallen pray to this sectarian thought and they
didn't openly welcome this move. As a result of which the Punjabis are
somewhat frustrated and fear that this golden opportunity may not vanish.
A real leader is always a visionary person who thinks beyond the
prevailing times you would thus agree that there is need to shed this pro
Pak hatred and need to support the on going peace process. We have had
enough of hatred in the last more than half a century now. Accordingly we
want to request you sir/madam, that when you are elected as MP you will
move a resolution accepting the Pak corridor offer in view of the
following:-
1.Kartarpur is a universal point on earth because there exist three tombs
of Guru Nanak; one Islamic grave, one Hindu smadh and the third one may
call a Sikh angitha at Dera Baba Nanak. No where on the earth one will
find three tombs of a single person. It is such a mysterious place.
2.It has remained virtually abandoned for the past 56 years. Wild grass
has been seen growing on its floors and so has wildness been witnessed in
the international relations for half a century now. Otherwise the poorer
nations they have been spending most of their budgets on arms and
ammunition.
3.This universal shrine can't be confined to any country or nation. Even,
Sir Ceril Radcliffe who drew boundary-line between India and Pakistan in
1947 could not divide Kartarpur. People know that as per June 3, 1947
declaration the whole of Gurdaspur distt. was given to Pakistan which
meant that Kartarpur had gone deep in Pakistan territory. But the division
didn't work and had to be revised. Radcliffe bisected Gurdaspur in such a
way that Kartarpur was exactly on the borderline. This is an open miracle
and the story of Kartarpur is full of miracles.
4. That Kartarpur is very close to border and the corridor is very much
practical. So much so that a pilgrim visiting the shrine is visible from
border to a naked eye. More over the Pakistan Govt has offered that it
would erect barbed wire fence on both sides of the corridor. They offered
that India can give counted number of persons and the same number will be
returned. Only identified pilgrims can be allowed.
5. More over it is we who are to visit their territory and that is exposed
not our security is exposed.
6. Even Prime Minister of India who visited China last year has sought a
similar corridor for the pilgrims of Kailash Mansarovar in the Tibet
Himalayas which requires a foot journey of more than 20 days. We learn
that China Govt has agreed to grant a passage. Mind it both China and
Pakistan are considered enemies. On the contrary China has usurped our
territory. More over Kartarpur is only 2 Kms and journey of only 2/3
minutes as there is no obstruction on the way: plain uninhabited land.
7. Govt of India has been granting similar corridors to Pak nationals at
many places. We have right in Amritsar an example where Pak nationals are
allowed every Thursday at Khemkaran sector to the Muslim Pir Sheikh
Braham's tomb which is again on the border in the Indian side.
8. At Chamalyal, R.S. Pura sector in Jammu also visitors from Pakistan are
allowed to enter Indian territory.
9. Similar spots are there on the Rajastan sector as well while on our
border with Bangladesh there are several corridors like the Tin Bigha
corridor.
10. This besides the feeling of enmities simply do not remain
indefinitely. Even Dr. Batra of USA sometimes ago got his doctorate for
his theory that unnatural boundaries don't survive for long at the most
their age could be 50-60 years. But we don't wish that the boundaries
collapse, we want soft boundaries not iron curtains.
The people of Punjab are so desperate to have darshan of Kartarpur can be
gauzed from this fact that in just one week from March 2, to March 7, 04
more than 10 lakh people, had gone to border to see their beloved
Kartarpur from a distance. The day Pakistan offered corridor Punjabis have
virtually become mad to see their shrine and a bee line to the shrine can
be seen on any day at Dera Baba Nanak. We would rather suggest you to take
a silent vow in your mind that you would move the Parliament on Kartarpur
and you will see that Kartar helps you to win this election. In the
meanwhile we are appealing to the Punjabis to support such candidates who
declare their open support for Kartarpur Corridor.
With best wishes
Prin. Harjinder Singh Randhawa
Chief Servant
|
