‘Sikh pilgrims subjected to anti-India propaganda’

New Delhi: In a dossier submitted to Pakistan, New Delhi has flagged the issue of Sikh pilgrims visiting the neighbouring country subjected to anti-India propaganda as well as the Khalistan agenda. The dossier, was shared with the Pakistani agencies, also mentions as to how one of their federal minister, Sardar Slohammad Yousuf, had praised the Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, who was killed by security forces in Kashmir.

The minister, India claimed, while addressing the Sikh pilgrims in 2016 during the Guru Nanak Dev Ji anniversary had even told them that that the Indian government was treating them like slaves at the main function Gurdwara Nankana Sahib. Mr Yousuf was the federal minister for Religious Affairs and Harmony.

The dossier was shared with Pakistani authorities during the recently held bilateral meeting on the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor held at Wagah border.

The dossier, further states that Sikh pilgrims have been regularly subjected to anti-India propaganda during their visit against the spirit of the visit and in complete subversion of the objectives of the bilateral arrangement. Every year, four Indian Sikh ‘Jathas’ visit important gurdwaras in Pakistan as part of the bilateral Protocol to visit Religious Shrines, 1974.

“Unfortunately, a large part of this propaganda is perpetuated during the religious functions organised by Evacuee Trust Property Board, Pakistan and the forum has been exploited to promote the agenda of Khalistan, instead of focusing on the religious discourse,’’ the documents further adds.