Sukhbir writes to PM for greater trade and cultural interaction between Punjab and Iran

Chandigarh, August 28, 2012 – The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today asked  the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to initiate a dialogue with Iran for  greater trade and commerce interaction between the business communities in Punjab and their  counterparts in the Middle East and West Asian countries. He also sought greater religious and  cultural exchanges between Punjabis and Iran especially in the light of strong heritage going back to the times of  Guru Nanak Dev ji.

In a letter to the Prime Minister ahead of his visit to Iran to take part in the16th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement there, Badal said , " With the setting up of the ICD at Attari Border, strong  possibilities have emerged for greater trade ties between Punjab and the Middle East,   West Asia and Africa through land route ."   Badal asked Dr Singh to request the  government of Iran to expedite this process.

The Deputy Chief Minister also asked Dr Singh to take up with his Iranian counterpart some of the other issues involving the concerns and sentiments the Sikhs and other Punjabis settled in that country.   "There has been a strong feeling in the minds of the Sikhs that some kind of regular cultural exchange to highlight this heritage should be put in place. The Government of Iran should be requested to facilitate this process through issuance of special group visa in coordination with the elected religious body of the Sikhs, the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), " said Badal in his letter to the PM, adding that  the Sikhs have strong cultural and emotional bonds with Iran as Guru Nanak Dev ji visited this land during the course of his journey to the Holy Mecca. Guru Sahib interacted closely with saints and seers from Iran. There is also a Gurdwara in Tehran where Sikhs recall this heritage.

Badal also pointed out that the Sikhs in Iran had   been requesting that they may be allowed ownership rights on their property and business establishments. "This would give them a feeling of greater security and thus encourage them to place even greater stakes in that country.  You may kindly take this issue up with the Iranian Government, " Sukhbir Singh Badal asked Dr Singh. .

Badal also asked the Prime Minister to convey the best wishes of  the Sikhs and the people of Punjab to their Iranian brethren , especially in the light of congenial atmosphere for the Sikhs in Iran. "It is a matter of great satisfaction that members of the Sikh community settled in Iran have excellent relations with the local populace and are generally satisfied with the respect and affection they enjoy from their Iranian brothers and sisters," Badal concluded.