India slams Pakistan for Kartarpur 'business plan'

India has lashed out at Pakistan after it transferred the management and maintenance of the Kartarpur shrine to a non-Sikh Body.

In a statement, the External Affairs Ministry said: "The unilateral decision by Pakistan is highly condemnable and runs against the spirit of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor as also the religious sentiments of the Sikh community at large."

"We have received representations from the Sikh community expressing grave concern at this decision by Pakistan targeting the rights of the minority Sikh community in Pakistan. Such actions only expose the reality of the Pakistani government and its leadership's tall claims of preserving and protecting the rights and welfare of the religious minority communities," the MEA said.

"Pakistan is called upon to reverse its arbitrary decision to deprive the Sikh minority community its right to manage affairs of the Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib," it added.

In a shocking move, Pakistan has taken away control of the Gurudwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur from the country's Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.

Citing a business plan, Pakistan's Ministry of Religious Affairs gave control of Kartarpur shrine in Punjab's Narowal district to the Evacuee Trust Property Board.

Ironically, there's not a single Sikh on this panel.

The timing of the move has raised doubts about Pakistan's intent. The transfer of authority comes just days ahead of the first anniversary of the inauguration of the historic Kartarpur Corridor on November 9.