Prayers have been answered today due to PM Modi, Akal Takht: Parkash Singh Badal

Our prayers have been answered today due to our Prime Minister and our Akal Takht, said former Punjab Chief Minister and Shirom Akali Dal patron Parkash Singh Badal at the inauguration of the Integrated Check Post of the Kartarpur Corridor at Dera Baba Nanak here on Saturday.

"Today is historic and pure. Guru Nanak Dev ji's 550th Birth Anniversary is being celebrated across the world with reverence. Our prayers have been answered today due to our Prime Minister and our Akal Takht. With the opening of the road, we get the opportunity to take Guru Nanak's message to every home," the politico said.

The first jatha of Sikh pilgrims from India arrived in Pakistan through the Corridor earlier in the day.

As part of the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of the founder of the Sikh faith, the Prime Minister paid his obeisance at Ber Sahib Gurdwara in Sultanpur Lodhi on Saturday. Modi offered his prayers at the gurudwara wearing an orange headcover.

After paying his obeisance, he was garlanded with an honorary scarf or a 'siropa'. Union Minister Harsimrat Badal and Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh were also present with Modi at the gurudwara.

The 4.7-kilometre-long route will connect Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur and Gurdwara Kartarpur Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.

PM will flag off first batch of 550 pilgrims that includes former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, actor-politician Sunny Deol, and Union Ministers Hardeep Puri and Harsimrat Kaur Badal and SAD chief Sukhbir Badal and several ministers, MPs and MLAs from Punjab who will travel to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib through the Kartarpur Corridor.

Gi Harpreet Singh, the Jathedar of Akal Takht, will lead the Indian delegation as the religious leader.

On the other hand, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will also inaugurate the other side of the route on the same day, apart from other events that will be hosted to mark Guru Nanak Dev's birth anniversary.

( With inputs from ANI )