Islamabad, April 17: Pakistan on Tuesday rejected as "falsehood" the Indian charge of "attempts to incite Sikh pilgrims" to raise the issue of Khalistan.
Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammed Faisal "categorically rejected Indian allegations" in a series of tweets, a day after India summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner and lodged a strong protest over attempts being made to raise the Khalistan issue during the visit of Sikh pilgrims to that country.
"By spreading such falsehoods, India stokes the controversy regarding visit of Sikh pilgrims, attending the Baisakhi and Khalsa ceremonies in Pakistan," tweeted Faisal.
He said: "Pakistan welcomes Hindu and Sikh pilgrims from all over the world, including India. Pakistan has made arrangements to extend maximum facilitation to the visiting Sikh pilgrims during their visits to sacred places in Pakistan."
According to the Indian External Affairs Ministry, around 1,800 Sikh pilgrims have been travelling to Pakistan from April 12 under a bilateral agreement on facilitating visits to religious shrines.
India, on Sunday, protested to the Pakistan foreign office that visiting Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan were not allowed to meet the Indian high commissioner and other Indian diplomats. MEA said Indian diplomats were forced to turn back when they went to meet the pilgrims at the Punja Sahib gurudwara.
India called it "inexplicable diplomatic discourtesy", pointing out that this amounted to a "clear violation of the Vienna Convention of 1961, the bilateral Protocol to visit Religious Shrines, 1974 and the Code of Conduct (for the treatment of diplomatic/consular personnel in India and Pakistan) of 1992".
Faisal tweeted that Pakistn "remain committed to continuing such cooperation, which is in line with our religious ethos, traditions of hospitality, and provisions of the 1974 Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines. No amount of Indian propaganda could succeed in turning this right into a wrong," tweeted Faisal.
He further said that India "should respect international and inter-state norms, respect all religions, especially minorities, and refrain from indulging in pointless provocation which only vitiates an already charged environment to the detriment of all".
Pakistan categorically rejects Indian allegations of “attempts to incite Indian pilgrims” on the issue of ‘Khalistan.’ By spreading such falsehoods, India stokes the controversy regarding visit of Sikh pilgrims, attending the Baisakhi and Khalsa ceremonies in Pakistan 1/7
— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) April 17, 2018
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
K'taka CM discusses development of Mysuru, Kalaburgi, Vijaypur airports with aviation min
New Delhi, Apr 4 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday met Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu and discussed development of Mysuru, Kalaburagi, and Vijaypur airports.
Regarding the Mysuru airport, Siddaramaiah said the state government has borne the cost of Rs 319.14 crore for acquiring 240 acres of land required for the runway expansion.
ALSO READ: MP Brijesh Chowta writes to centre urges to retain Mangaluru as Air India Express crew base
"The Airports Authority of India is requested to plan the expansion works, bear the estimated cost of Rs 101.84 crore required for utility shifting and take up the runway expansion/development works at the earliest," he said in a letter written to the central minister.
State Industries Minister M B Patil and state government officials were present in the meeting.
