Pakistan on Tuesday rejected India’s allegations of “attempts to incite Indian pilgrims” on the issue of ‘Khalistan’ in the Punjab region, according to Pakistan’s Express Tribune report.
“By spreading such falsehoods, India has chosen to deliberately stoke further controversy around the visit of Sikh pilgrims, currently attending the Baisakhi and Khalsa Janamdin ceremonies in Pakistan,” said a statement issued by the Foreign Office.
The Khalistan movement was a Sikh separatist movement, which seeks to create a separate country called Khalistān in the Punjab region.
However the Foreign Office statement said Pakistan welcomes Hindu and Sikh pilgrims from all over the world, including India.
“As always, Pakistani authorities have made arrangements to extend maximum facilitation to the visiting Sikh Yatrees. The members of the Sikh community appreciate the assistance and cooperation extended to them during their visits to sacred places in Pakistan.”
The statement also said that the Sikh community had been protesting against the government of India for screening a controversial movie in India, which hurt their religious sentiments.
The report said that in view of the charged situation and the explicit refusal of the Sikh Yatrees to meet Indian officials, the Indian high commissioner cancelled his visit on April 14, 2018.
“Indian attempts to distort the truth and obfuscate facts are unethical and regrettable.”
“It is ironic that the country whose highest officials are on record for statements against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan choose to indulge in blatant hypocrisy by twisting facts.”
“We remain committed to continuing such cooperation, which is in line with our religious ethos, traditions of hospitality, and provisions of the 1974 Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines. No amount of Indian propaganda could succeed in turning this right into a wrong.”
Around three thousand Sikh Yatrees have arrived in Pakistan, from India and abroad, to attend the Besakhi festival at Gurdwara Panja Sahib Hassanabdal that started on Thursday.
Baisakhi is widely celebrated by Sikhs in Punjab, with festivities centred on Panja Sahib Complex in Hassanabdal.
Baisakhi, an ancient festival dating back to the 17th century, also marks the beginning of a new solar year and harvest season.
It is one of the most significant holidays in the Sikh calendar.