Sushma Swaraj will not attend Sikh pilgrim corridor event in Pakistan
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Thanking Mr Qureshi, Ms Swaraj said she will not be able to attend the ceremony because of prior commitments including campaigning for the Telangana assembly elections
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj thanked Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi for an invite to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor for Sikh pilgrims. However, she added, she will not travel to Pakistan to attend the event due to prior commitments.
Swaraj was invited by her counterpart Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi today.
Thanking Mr Qureshi, Ms Swaraj said she will not be able to attend the ceremony because of prior commitments including campaigning for the Telangana assembly elections. Union ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Puri will travel to Pakistan instead.
I thank HE Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi Foreign Minister of Pakistan for inviting me to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor on the Pakistan side of the International boundary on 28 November 2018. /1
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) November 24, 2018
Since I am unable to travel to Kartarpur Sahib on the scheduled date, Government of India will be represented by my esteemed colleagues Mrs.Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Mr.H.S.Puri. /2
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) November 24, 2018
We hope that the Government of Pakistan will expedite construction of the corridor in order to ensure that our citizens can pay their respects at the Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib using the corridor as soon as possible. /3
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) November 24, 2018
She said that government of Pakistan will expedite construction of the corridor in order to ensure that citizen of Indian can pay their respects at the Gurudwara Kartarpur Shaib using the corridor.
The groundbreaking ceremony of the facilities on the Pakistan side will be inaugurated by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on November 28.
Apart from Swaraj, Qureshi also invited Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu to the ceremony.
"On behalf of Pakistan I have extended an invitation to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj @SushmaSwaraj , Capt Amarinder Singh @capt_amarinder & Navjot Singh Sidhu @sherryontopp to attend the groundbreaking ceremony at #Kartarpura on 28 Nov, 2018," Mr Qureshi tweeted.