New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has agreed to be a part of the first ‘jatha’ (batch) of pilgrims to the Sikh shrine of Kartarpur Sahib across the border in Pakistan, while President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said on Thursday after formally inviting them
But Amarinder clarified that the group, which the former Indian premier will be a part of, will not go to the opening ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor.
In separate meetings with the president and the prime minister here, he urged them to join the mega celebrations to mark the auspicious occasion.
Singh told mediapersons that both Kovind and Modi had accepted the Punjab government’s invitation to be part of the historic celebrations and that the modalities of their visits would be chalked out after the Kartarpur Corridor opening programme was finalised with Pakistan.
He requested that a group of 21 persons may be allowed to visit Nankana Sahib to organise a “path” (reading of religious scriptures) on the occasion of the 550th Prakash Purb from October 30 to November 3 and bring a “Nagar Kirtan” to Sultanpur Lodhi via Amritsar (Wagah) later in the day.
The “Nagar Kirtan” will arrive at Sultanpur Lodhi in Punjab’s Kapurthala district on November 4.
