Amritsar (Punjab): Sparking yet another controversy on the Kartarpur corridor between India and Pakistan, Punjab Director general of police Dinkar Gupta said that it poses security problems. He was speaking an event hosted by a popular newspaper in Panchkula on Wednesday.
“Kartarpur offers a potential threat,” Gupta said, adding there were reasons why the government chose not to throw open the corridor all these years. “You send somebody in the morning as an ordinary chap and by evening he comes back like a trained terrorist. You are there for six hours, you can be taken to a firing range, you can be taught to make an IED (improvised explosive device),” Gupta said while addressing the event.
Read:| 'Pak considering on passport-free entry of Indian pilgrims to Kartarpur'
Raising questions over Pakistan’s intent in agreeing to throw open the Kartarpur Corridor, the Punjab Police chief claimed that there were reasons why the Corridor was not opened all these years as some elements based in the neighbouring country were trying to woo the pilgrims and making overtures to them.
Meanwhile, criticising the statement made by the DGP, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Manjinder Sirsa said that it is very unfortunate to realise that under Congress-led state government, the police chief has made such an objectionable comment.
Raising doubt over the efficiency of Capt Amarinder Singh-led Punjab government, he said that the Chief Minister of the state is himself a Sikh but the Congress is trying to challenge the patriotism of the people of the community.
"Sikhs are loyal and dedicated patriots of the nation. If a Hindu goes to Mansarovar for pilgrimage and does not return as a trained terrorist then how can a Sikh pilgrim visits to Kartarpur and comes back as militant. Since 1980, Congress has been insulting the people of Sikh community regularly by titling them as terrorists," Sirsa added.
The Shiromani Akali Dal leader urged the Punjab CM to order for an inquiry into the matter and take stern actions against DGP Dinkar Gupta.
Read:| Pakistani cleric threatens Sikh pilgrims from visiting Kartarpur Gurdwara
