Pro-Khalistan Leader Taken off Kartarpur Panel After India Objects

Ahead of the second Kartarpur Corridor meeting, Chawla was removed from his post after India’s objection.

Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu with pro-Khalistan leader Gopal Chawla. 

(Photo Courtesy: ANI)

Ahead of the second meeting on the Kartarpur Corridor project with Pakistan, its Cabinet on Friday, 12 July, removed Gopal Singh Chawla from the Pakistan Sikh Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC), reported CNN-News18.

“The Federal Government (Federal Cabinet) has been pleased to re-constitute the Pakistan Sikh Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC),” said Pakistan in an official statement. India had reportedly raised objection over pro-Khalistan Chawla being on the panel.

“I have given sacrifices for the Kartarpur project. I am thankful to Pakistan PM Imran Khan that he is serious about opening the corridor.”

Gopal Singh Chawla to <i>CNN-News18</i>

On 1 July, Chawla had reportedly shared Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu’s morphed image, with a green turban embellished with a star and crescent moon, on his Facebook page.

Notification (Source: Twitter)

Indian and Pakistani officials are due to meet at the Attari-Wagah border on Sunday, 14 July, to discuss the Kartarpur Corridor’s progress, including connectivity at Zero Point and the number of pilgrims permitted, reported Times Now.

The first round of talks between the neighbours was held on 14 March on the Indian side of the border while the 14 July meeting will reportedly be held on the Wagah side. The talks had initially been scheduled for 2 April but India’s objection to Chawla’s involvement in the project had thrown a spanner in the process, Times Now reported.

(With inputs from Times Now and CNN-News18)