India rejects Pakistan's offer to reopen Katarpur hall for Sikh pilgrims on June 29

India has rejected a proposal made with the aid of Pakistan on Saturday for the reopening of the Kartarpur hall for Sikh pilgrims on June 29, saying that pass-border trip has been suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak,times of India reported.

The Ministry of foreign Affairs in Pakistan had issued an announcement earlier within the day conveying its "readiness" to the Indian side to reopen the corridor on the occasion of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh's demise anniversary on June 29.

"as the religious places are progressively opening up around the world, Pakistan has additionally made indispensable arrangements to reopen Kartarpur Sahib hall for Sikh pilgrims," stated the commentary.

"To be sure adherence to the fitness guidelines, Pakistan has invited India to determine necessary SOPs for reopening of the corridor," it brought.

The statement referred to that the hall changed into inaugurated remaining year on November 9, three days before the 550th delivery Anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, pleasurable "the long awaited desire of Sikh devotees of the foreign community".

The remark described the corridor as "a true image of peace and religious concord" and the way the landmark initiative "has been immensely liked with the aid of the Sikh neighborhood in every single place the realm together with India".

"the first Guru of Sikhism, Baba Guru Nanak Saheb, had spent the ultimate 18 years of his existence in Kartarpur," it delivered.

in response to the remark, the hall became "temporarily closed on sixteen March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic" and Pakistan is now trying to reopen it after SOPs are put in place with joint session between both sides.

India, in line with Pakistan's gesture, described it as "a mirage of goodwill", according to TOI.

"executive sources referred to this might simplest undermine the bilateral settlement which required India to share counsel with Pakistan every week before the date of arrival," the publication added.

Wagah border reopened

past this week, the country reopened the Wagah border between both countries for 3 days to repatriate Indians stranded in Pakistan.

according to the indoors ministry, 748 Indians stranded in Pakistan due to the coronavirus lockdown, were to return to their country in three phases.

in the first and 2nd batches, 250 Indian nationals every have been repatriated whereas the third batch turned into made from the remaining 248 Indian nationals, the interior ministry noted, adding that the Indian nationals were in different cities of Pakistan.

Pakistan, on March 19, had closed the border in a bid to prevent the unfold of the virus within the nation.

Work begins on first Hindu temple in Islamabad

meanwhile, leading Minister Imran Khan has accredited the unencumber of dollars for the building of the first Hindu temple in Islamabad.

In a meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNAs Jay Parkash, Shanila Ruth, Laal Chand, Ramesh Kumar and Jamshed Thomas on Friday, the best minister issued directives for accelerating the legislation technique to protect minorities' rights.

The temple is being developed in the federal capital's H-9/2 sector on a 4-kanal plot of land allocated chiefly through the govt.

The leading minister lauded the contribution of the minority neighborhood in the development and prosperity of Pakistan and noted it was the executive's priority to make certain the availability of equal opportunities for minorities and to give protection to their rights.