Delhi dossier on Pak’s anti-India propaganda

NEW DELHI: A 23-page dossier was shared with Pakistan during the Kartarpur corridor talks held this weekend at Wagah, with details of anti-India activities to which Indian Sikh pilgrims are regularly exposed during their visits to key gurdwaras in Pakistan under a 1974 bilateral protocol on touring religious shrines.
The dossier mentioned attempts since 2016 by Sikh leaders based in Pakistan — including former PSGPC general secretary Gopal Singh Chawla, who was removed just ahead of the latest round of Kartarpur talks — and pro-Khalistan Sikh elements invited from other countries to openly instigate visiting Indian ‘jathas’ with speeches supporting Khalistan as well as militancy in Kashmir.It also shared posters/banners regarding secessionist campaign ‘Referendum 2020’ of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) that were prominently displayed at Sikh shrines during the visits. The concern, officials said, were escalated in light of the upcoming celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev’s 550th birth anniversary later this year.
As India and Pakistan work on the Kartarpur corridor that will allow visa-free visit of 5,000-10,000 Indian pilgrims every day to Kartarpur Sahib, India is concerned about likely attempts by inimical elements in Pakistan to instigate visiting Sikhs with anti-India and pro-Khalistan propaganda. While India has sought some kind of consular presence at Kartarpur Sahib, Pakistan has not warmed up to the suggestion. As per the dossier, four annual Indian Sikh ‘jathas’ visiting gurdwaras in Pakistan “have been regularly subjected to anti-India propaganda... against the spirit of the pilgrims’ visit and in complete subversion of the objective of this noble agreement”. Much of this propaganda, it said, was perpetuated during religious functions organised by Evacuee Trust Property Board, Pakistan.