New Delhi, Delhi, India

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Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday ruled out a visit to Pakistan for the Kartarpur Corridor opening, making it clear that he would be only leading the first all-party Jatha to the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara to pay obeisance.

Amid reports incorrectly suggesting that Dr. Manmohan Singh had accepted Pakistan’s invitation to go there for the opening of Kartarpur Corridor, the Punjab chief minister told mediapersons that he did not believe the former prime minister had any such plans.

“There is no question of me going (to Pakistan for Kartarpur corridor opening) and I feel Dr Manmohan Singh will not go as well,” he said, pointing out that there was a huge difference between visiting Pakistan and going to the gurdwara through the Corridor.

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The chief minister’s remarks came in response to questions after a section of the media erroneously claimed that Dr Singh had accepted Pakistan invite and would be going across the border for the Kartarpur Corridor inauguration. The fact was that Dr Singh had accepted Captain Amarinder’s invitation to join the Jatha, to be led by the chief minister, through the Kartarpur Corridor, to pay obeisance at the historic gurdwara across the border on the occasion of the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji, an official spokesperson pointed out.

As far as visiting Pakistan is concerned, the chief minister reiterated that he would not go there till Pakistan stops cross border terrorism. He said Punjab was the worst sufferer of Pakistan’s cross border terrorism and he cannot think of going there till it stops.

The Chief Minister had, earlier in the day, called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind and former PM Dr Manmohan Singh to extend a formal invitation to participate in the main events organised by the state government to mark the historic occasion.

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Both Modi and Kovind had accepted the invite, while Dr. Singh had also agreed to join the Jatha that would go to the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara on the opening day of the Corridor.

Asked if Pakistan was playing a dirty game over the Kartarpur Corridor, the Chief Minister told the media persons to put this question to their prime minister Imran Khan. India, on its part, was fully geared to ensure the security and safety of the pilgrims, he added.