Former PM Manmohan Singh To Join PM Modi, President Kovind For Kartarpur Opening Ceremony: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be visiting Kartarpur Sahib shrine in Pakistan, as part of the first all-party group of pilgrims, on the occasion of the 550th birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak next month, the Punjab government said on Thursday (3 September).

"Dr Manmohan Singh agrees to join the first all-party 'jatha' to Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara and attend the mega event to mark the historic occasion," the Punjab government statement said after Amarinder Singh's meeting with the former Prime Minister.

Significantly, the Pakistan government too had extended an invitation to Manmohan Singh to join the celebrations at Kartarpur Sahib but he had not accepted it.

Amarinder Singh also met President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said "both have accepted the state government invitation to be part of historic celebration. Modalities for their visit would be finalised after the Kartarpur Corridor opening programme is frozen with Pakistan".

A corridor is being built to enable pilgrims from India to visit the shrine and it is targeted to be completed by 31 October.

Amarinder Singh also sought Modi's personal intervention to facilitate political clearance for a special all-party group's visit to Sri Nankana Sahib, the birth place of Guru Nanak, in Pakistan.

(With inputs from IANS)