BJP Punjab chief slams Pakistan to put restrictions on Kartarpur corridor

Punjab BJP chief Shwait Malik Friday lashed out at Pakistan for trying to put restrictions on a number of pilgrims visiting the historic Sikh shrine in Kartarpur. India had on Thursday sought visa-free access for 5,000 pilgrims per day to the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan during a meeting between officials of the two countries.

"Pakistan now seeks to impose too many restrictions on the proposed corridor facility which include capping the number of pilgrims to 500 per day and not allowing movement of devotees on foot and issue of special permits," Malik said in a statement issued here. He said Pakistan should reciprocate to India's efforts of facilitating the hassle-free visit of pilgrims to the Sikh shrine.

"Pakistan is oblivious to the fact that Guru Nanak Dev holds universal appeal among the people here and abroad. The government is India has made a serious effort to fulfil the long pending aspiration of the pilgrims (by facilitating a visit to the shrine) but Pakistan is trying to scuttle this move," alleged Malik, who is a Rajya Sabha MP.