Terror fear scares Sikh Yatrees away

[LahoreEstate]

Sunday, April 12, 2009
By Atif Nadeem

LAHORE

ONLY 300 pilgrims turned up Saturday at the Wagah Border to take part in Besahki Festival.

Every year thousands of Sikh pilgrims visit Pakistan but this year only two trains carrying 284 pilgrims reached Wagah Station from Attari which really astonished everyone as 4,000 to 5,000 Sikh pilgrims were expected to arrive. Majority of pilgrims stayed away because of Mumbai attacks, the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team, Manawan Police Training School attack and the possibility of more terrorist attacks.

The first train reached at 11: 30 am carrying 264 people while there were just 20 pilgrims on the second train.

Pilgrims said that Indian people were really scared of rampant terrorist attacks being carried out in Pakistan, therefore, majority of people preferred to stay back. They said the Indian government had not warned them of any attacks but pilgrims were on their guard.

Pakistan Rangers in collaboration with police force provided security to pilgrims as the government had been informed that militants could target pilgrims.

Rangers personnel were seen patrolling the border area and police officials also deployed female police personnel for security of women. Hidden cameras, walk-through gate and metal detectors were used by law enforcement personnel for the security of pilgrims.

Evacuee Trust Property Board Chairman Syed Asif Hashmi welcomed pilgrims at Wagah Station. Asif said the ETPB had made adequate arrangements for thousands of pilgrims and made security arrangements. He said the Pakistani government had done everything to facilitate pilgrims so that they could offer their religious rituals without any inconvenience. Asked as to why few pilgrims had arrived, he said the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi had issued plenty of visas and anyone could visit Pakistan without any fear.

Bhai Mardana Society, Nankana Sahib Yatra Committee and Khalara Mission had brought pilgrims to Pakistan for the Besakhi Festival. The BMS was led by Sohan Singh while Balwinder Singh Chopal brought 140 Sikh pilgrims along with him.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the main Sikh organisation which always brings thousands of Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan, could not bring pilgrims as it had been warned by the Indian government not to visit Pakistan in such turbulent conditions when both the countries had been at loggerheads since the Mumbai carnage.

Pilgrims told The News that the Pakistan High Commission in India had issued visas to the SGPC but pilgrims were reluctant to visit the country because of fears of terrorist activities.

Besakhi is the day on which the Khalsa was born and Sikhs were given a clear identity and a code of conduct to live by. The event was led by the last living Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who baptised the first Sikhs using sweet nectar called Amrit.

Sikhs reflect on the values taught to them by their Gurus and celebrate the birth of the Khalsa. In the second week of April, the Besakhi Festival is held by the Sikh Community at the Panja Sahib Gurdwara in Hasanabdal.

Baljit Singh, 26, a resident of Raipur, said that some hidden elements wanted to disrupt peace. He said the Indian government had urged pilgrims to visit Pakistan without any fear.

Hirdit Singh, another pilgrim, said Indian pilgrims were afraid of the situation in Pakistan and that was why few pilgrims had come to attend the festival. He urged India and Pakistan to join hands together against militants to save the region from falling into their hands. He said the Indian government was highly concerned that militants might sabotage upcoming polls.

Parkash Kaur, a resident of Amritsar, said Mumbai attacks threatened bilateral ties between the two countries. She said that her son had also warned her not to visit Pakistan for the festival but she knew that Pakistani people were peaceful and only some hidden elements wanted to create hatred and bad blood between the two countries.

Harbinder Kaur, a resident of Jammu, said the Taliban phenomenon had reached Jammu and Kashmir and it was feared that the Taliban could target pilgrims.

Pilgrims will stay in Hasanabdal from 12 to 14 and then will leave for Nankana Sahib where they will perform their religious rituals until 16th. Pilgrims will spend three days in Lahore visiting Dera Shaib, Amena Abad and other religious places. They will return to India on 20th.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=172079