Chandigarh:- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann today demanded the opening of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor. He said that the central government is stopping the groups going for Sri Kartarpur Sahib and Nankana Sahib darshan, which is an attack on the faith of Punjabis. While revenge is being taken from Punjabis by organizing a cricket match between India and Pakistan at its own will.
The Chief Minister said that the central government stopped the release of the film shot before the Pahalgam incident, but the India-Pakistan cricket match was organized the other day. He quipped that the cricket match is being led by the son of the elder Sahib.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has targeted the central government, objecting to the ban on groups of Sikh devotees going to Pakistan on the occasion of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Gurpurab. The Chief Minister said in a press conference here today that the BJP government at the center is maintaining a hostile attitude towards Punjabis, under which Punjab is being targeted every day. He said that now the central government has banned devotees going to Pakistan to celebrate the birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji on November 1. The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is playing with the emotions of Punjabis while Punjabis are a nation that seeks the welfare of all. He said that if a live cricket match can be played with Pakistan, then why can't devotees go to pay obeisance at the door of Baba. He said that they can also wait for a cricket match and movies, but a ban cannot be imposed on celebrating Gurpurab or religious days. He asked the Prime Minister what was the fault of the devotees. A consensus is reached on the match but faith is banned.
Bhagwant Mann said that now Sunil Jakhar and Ravneet Bittu will ask the Prime Minister what was the compulsion to hold the cricket match. Why the ban on the jathas now. He said that the policy of the Centre is against Pakistan or against the people.
He also said that either close everything with Pakistan or open everything. He said that the Central Government has opened the ports of Gujarat and Mumbai for trade, while the roads of Punjab are closed. Mr. Mann said that the Central Government is taking revenge from Punjab for not voting for the BJP and for the farmers' agitation.
In response to a question, the Chief Minister said that token money is far from the question, so far the Centre has not sent even a single rupee as flood relief fund. He said that the Centre immediately sent relief funds to Afghanistan but no money has been given to Punjab yet.
The Chief Minister said that when there is a crisis, Punjab is remembered but later restrictions are imposed. He also raised questions on the Prime Minister's Relief Fund. The Chief Minister said that the Central Government should investigate the money being demanded by an organization in the name of Punjab and the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.
The Chief Minister said that Punjabis will remember the excesses of the Central Government. He also said that Punjabis fall and rise. In response to another question, he said that the Punjab Government will also distribute seeds to farmers. He appealed to the farmers to approach the Punjab Government for seeds instead of getting seeds from here and there.