Will seek transfer of Kartarpur Sahib from Pakistan, says SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal

Sukhbir Singh Badal. File pic

Amid ongoing Lok Sabha elections 2024, the Shiromani Akali Dal on Saturday came out with its poll manifesto and said it will seek transfer of Kartarpur Sahib from Pakistan to India through mutual land exchange between the two countries, reported news agency PTI.

After releasing his party's manifesto for the June 1 Lok Sabha elections 2024 in Punjab, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said his party makes a commitment to renew the fight for the inclusion of Chandigarh and other Punjabi speaking areas left out of the state.

"Chandigarh was categorically declared to belong to Punjab and was to remain a Union Territory only for five years. We will fight Centre's betrayal of Punjab on this with renewed force," he said in a statement. Chandigarh is the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana. Describing its manifesto as 'ailan-nama', Badal said the party will use its mandate to seek transfer of Kartarpur Sahib from Pakistan to India through mutual land exchange between the two countries, reported PTI.

"The party also promises to work through the Government of India seeking that the requirement for passports for pilgrims to Kartarpur Sahib be dropped and be replaced with a simple permit system," he added. The Kartarpur corridor links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district. The party manifesto said with people's mandate, it will move to cancel all decisions and settlements on river waters that have been made without Punjab's concurrence and in violation of the nationally accepted Riparian principle. Badal said his party will seek royalty on its river water given to non-Riparian states and will take all political or legal steps necessary for this. The manifesto demanded opening of Attari and Hussainiwala borders with Pakistan for trade and tourism to usher in economic prosperity. It also promised to secure Special Economic Zones (SEZ) status for the entire border. "We will engage with the Centre to bring small, medium and MSME industrial units in the border districts, " it said. It also emphasised the need for industry-focused skill education institutes in this belt, reported PTI.

The manifesto said apart from "discriminating" against the Sikhs, the Centre is "discriminating against and terrorising other minorities, including Muslims, Christian, Bodhis and Jainis. SAD will champion their cause in every sphere". It also announced to oppose any move at enforcing the Uniform Civil Code. The manifesto said the party will seek to put an end to the "dangerous interference into Sikh religious affairs by non-Sikh forces who have been using some disgruntled Sikh elements as cosmetic front for their nefarious designs to weaken the 'Panth' from within". Badal said his party would use the people's mandate to create three Special Economic Hubs, developing Mohali as an IT hub, Malwa belt as textile hub and Sri Amritsar Sahib as well Hari ke Patan and areas around Pathankot, Ranjit Sagar Dam as major tourism hub of global scale, reported PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)