A 12 Sep Indian Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) advisory has barred Sikhs from visiting Pakistan for the upcoming Prakash Purab (Birth Anniversary) of the first Sikh sovereign Guru Nanak in November. The advisory cited security concerns and tensions with Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor (vermilion mark). Ironically, the restriction came two days before the resumption of sporting ties between India and Pakistan. On 14 Sep, India played Pakistan in Dubai, in the Asia Cup T-20 cricket tournament. The reason for cricket is India's Home Minister's son Jay Shah is the president of International Cricket Council and there is money to be made from cricket while allowing pilgrims to visit or re-opening Kartarpur Corridor—closed since April—is not in the union government's interest. Aam Aadmi Party’s Panjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann publicly criticized the advisory at a press conference in Chandigarh, accused the union government of 'double standards', and highlighted policy inconsistencies between religious and sporting exchanges with Pakistan. Giani Harpreet Singh of the parallel Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) said, 'Pilgrims went when the Indo-Pak wars in 1965 and 1971 took place, but now it is banned.' Sukhbir Singh Badal, chief of SAD said the ban hurts the religious sentiments of Sikhs. Indian National Congress Member of Legislative Assembly Pargat Singh called the ban unjust. Article 18 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights establishes 'the right to religion...manifest it through teaching, practice, worship, and observance.' Article 25 of the Indian Constitution guarantees 'the fundamental right to freedom of conscience and the free profession, practice, and propagation of religion.' Meanwhile, the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee has earmarked USD 2.2M for flood relief, 800K litres diesel to farmers to clear their fields and seeds to small farmers. Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Eternal Throne) presided over a meeting of all individuals and organizations involved in flood relief and announced a website sarkarekhalsa.org to coordinate relief efforts. Organizations and individuals are encouraged to register on the website (earlier coverage).
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