Photo: Arvind Yadav/HTNew Delhi:India on Sunday lodged a strong protest with Pakistan over blocking of access of visiting Sikh pilgrims to Indian diplomats in that country and even “compelling” the Indian envoy to return while on way to a prominent gurudwara there. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said a group of around 1,800 Sikh pilgrims are on a visit to Pakistan from 12 April under a bilateral agreement on facilitating visits to religious shrines. “India has lodged a strong protest with Pakistan over a block of access for visiting pilgrims to Indian diplomats and consular teams,” it said in a statement. It said the high commissioner, who was to greet Indian pilgrims on the occasion of Baisakhi, was thus compelled to return without meeting Indian citizens. “However, this year, the consular team has been denied access to Indian Sikh pilgrims.

Source: Mint April 15, 2018 09:22 UTC