Sikh Pilgrims to Amritsar Demand Lower Bus Fares, Visa Office

June 28, 2006

Source: SikhNet

http://www.sikhnet.com/sikhnet/news.nsf/NewsArchive/92CEEE4A7760B3DF8725719B0062D5C3

On June 28, 2006 SikhNet reported, "A visa office in Amritsar and a reduced bus fare would facilitate more Indian Sikhs to visit holy places in Pakistan, Sikh religious leaders said on Monday. 'Most buses arrive empty and only 234 Sikh pilgrims have come by train to commemorate the 167th death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh,' said Sardar Baldev Singh, leader of the Sikh delegation and member of Shirmoni Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). Talking to Daily Times, he said Sikhs had to spend two or three days in Delhi to apply for visas, and were often denied. He offered land by the SGPC for a visa office in Amritsar which, he said, would increase the Pakistani government’s earnings besides helping Sikh pilgrims."