ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ, 20 ਜਨਵਰੀ 2019 - ਪੰਜਾਬ ਕੈਬਿਨੇਟ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਨਵਜੋਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਿੱਧੂ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਬੇਲੀ ਤੇ ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਇਮਰਾਨ ਖਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਕਰਤਾਰਪੁਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰੇ ਦੇ ਆਲੇ ਦੁਆਲੇ ਨੂੰ ਕਮਰਸ਼ੀਅਲ ਜਗ੍ਹਾ ਵਜੋਂ ਵਰਤ ਕੇ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ ਨਾਲ ਛੇੜਛਾੜ ਨਾ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਅਪੀਲ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਖ਼ਤ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਹੈ। ਸਿੱਧੂ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਬਾਬੇ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਲ ਸਮੁੱਚੀ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮ ਲੇਵਾ ਸੰਗਤ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਰਧਾ ਤੇ ਭਾਵਨਾ ਜੁੜੀ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਭਾਵਨਾਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਦੇਖਿਦਆਂ ਕਰਤਾਰਪੁਰ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੇ ਆਲੇ ਦੁਆਲੇ ਦੀ ਜਗ੍ਹਾ ਨੂੰ ਪੁਰਾਤਨ ਦਿੱਖ ਵਿਚ ਹੀ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਜਾਵੇ।
ਸਿੱਧੂ ਨੇ ਹੋਰ ਕੀ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਇਮਰਾਨ ਨੂੰ, ਪੜ੍ਹਨ ਲਈ ਹੇਠ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਖਤ ਪੜ੍ਹੋ :-
Excellency,
Baba Nanak’s corridor has brought us together as people and nations, leading us into times of shared peace and prosperity world-over. However, as the plans for the development works to be undertaken for the 550th Birth anniversary of Baba Nanak, the sacredness and serenity of Kartarpur Sahib should not be compromised as millions of pilgrim hearts across the world yearn for this historic moment. One such voice is that of a Sikh-American author and community activist Gurmeet Kaur, who has reminded us of the huge responsibility cast upon us. I request that the old pristine landscape and terrain of the area should not be disfigured in the name of ‘commercialization’ and ‘tourist comforts.’ Kartarpur Sahib is a sacred pilgrimage and should remain so without compromising its history, architecture and ecology. The holy land where Baba Nanak spent 18 years of his life be declared ‘Heritage Village.’
When I sat down at Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib, I became drenched into a meditative state of joy unspeakable, tears flowing in my eyes. I could feel his presence after all these years. The moment I touched the soil of Kartarpur Sahib, every pore in my body was overwhelmed by Baba Nanak’s presence. Divinity is expressed through formations of nature in and around the Gurudwara Sahib in its historic establishment, clean air and serene skyline.
To preserve the sanctity of Kartarpur Sahib I request:
1. In the 104 acres of land that surrounds the Gurudwara Sahib at Kartarpur, we can avoid building of any new concrete structures and the altering of the historical structures on the sites. To protect the holy land-banks of soil which were once tilled by Baba Nanak, utilising them for organic cultivation of local food crops that must be used to serve langar to the devotees in the holy Gurudwara Sahib. Sustainable use of water from the well that Baba Nanak may have used and keeping the land covered by forest intact will serve as a symbol for the world, in rightful agricultural practices and living in oneness with mother nature.
2. I request you to regulate our movement as pilgrims: we must move primarily on foot with an exception only for elderly, disabled or sick, along with providing accessible amenities such as toilets. Personal transport should be eschewed at all costs. In 104 acres of land walking trails could be developed for people to walk along fields once tilled by Baba Nanak and now preserved in the same sanctity.
3. The new facilities for religious tourists should not interfere with current aesthetics, and must be eco-friendly; their architecture aligned to Guru period. They should be located outside and at a considerable distance from the current premises so as to not affect the current ecosystem. Exploration work should be taken up to rediscover heritage sites in Kartarpur Sahib that existed at time of Baba Nanak, leaving the architecture of all historical buildings untouched.
4. Waste disposal should be carefully planned and executed. Garbage from the use of plastic bags, bottles, Styrofoam and packaged foods has no place.
5. Furthermore, I request you encourage local and traditional artefacts to be allowed in the ‘bazaars’ around the area. We can kindly turn away any form of ‘shopping complex’ that sells fast-food or utilizes plastic wares. We can welcome folk art and the music of rabbis and folklorists to perform around the area.
As Baba Nanak’s corridor opens the way to a sacred pilgrimage, it will stand as living symbols of three pillars of Sikhism ‘Naam Japna - Kirat Karni -Vand Ke Shakna’ (To medititate on God’s Name – To earn with one’s honest work – To share & consume (the very essence langar - free Kitchen).
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Navjot Singh Sidhu)
His Excellency Wazir-I-Azam Imran Khan,
Government of Pakistan,
Islamabad, Pakistan