Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj, the officiating jathedar of Akal Takht, has passionately called for the immediate reopening of the Kartarpur Corridor, a vital passage connecting devotees to the historic Darbar Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan. The corridor, closed since May 7 following India’s Operation Sindoor targeting terror hideouts in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26, has left Sikh pilgrims unable to visit the sacred site ahead of Guru Nanak Dev’s ‘Jyoti Jot Diwas.’

In a statement from Amritsar, Gargaj urged the Indian government to act swiftly, emphasizing the corridor’s significance for the Sikh ‘sangat’ to pay obeisance at the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism. Opened in 2019 during Guru Nanak’s 550th Prakash Gurpurb, the corridor links the Darbar Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan’s Kartarpur to the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district, enabling emotional reunions for Punjabis separated by the 1947 Partition.

“The closure due to India-Pakistan tensions has deepened the pain of Partition,” Gargaj said, noting that Punjabis—Sikhs, Hindus, and Muslims—still carry the scars of 1947’s division. He recalled the loss of over 200 Sikh ‘gurdhams,’ including Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, Guru Nanak’s birthplace, during the Partition’s upheaval. “Such devastation must never happen again,” he added, urging peace and access to sacred sites.

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The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) is commemorating the Partition’s victims with an ‘Akhand Path Sahib’ at Akal Takht, starting August 14 and concluding today with a collective ‘ardas’ for those killed in 1947. Local devotee Harpreet Kaur shared, “The corridor gave us hope to reconnect with our heritage; its closure feels like losing a part of our soul.”

The Sikh community’s plea for reopening has gained traction, with social media campaigns amplifying the call. Gargaj’s appeal underscores the corridor’s role as a bridge of faith and unity, urging diplomatic efforts to restore access. As tensions persist, the demand highlights the enduring emotional and spiritual significance of Kartarpur for Punjabis worldwide.

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