BJP MP seeks reopening of Kartarpur corridor, Amit Shah inaugurates exhibition to mark 25 years of Modi’s public service

Rajya Sabha member Vikramjit Singh Sahney on Wednesday (October 28, 2026) said that he has urged the Union government to reopen the Kartarpur corridor ahead of Guru Nanak Jayanti next month.

The corridor, inaugurated in 2019, links two important Sikh shrines—Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district and Gurudwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan—and allows pilgrims to visa-free access. The corridor has remained closed since the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, in which 26 people were killed. Gurudwara Darbar Sahib is the final resting place of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday (October 28) inaugurated a painting exhibition, titled after the Prime Minister’s radio programme Mann Ki Baat, to mark 25 years of Narendra Modi’s public life. The exhibition has been organised by the World Punjabi Organisation, of which Mr. Sahney is international president.

Mr. Sahney is among six Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs who recently switched to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Punjab goes to polls early next year.

Mr. Sahney told The Hindu after the inauguration that he has raised the issue of reopening the corridor with Mr. Shah, but the government would also have to consider the geopolitical situation.

“The corridor was closed after the Pahalgam terror attack. We have requested the Minister to reopen it ahead of Guru Nanak Jayanti next month, but it is the government’s call,” Mr. Sahney said. 

He said that Mr. Modi should be conferred the Bharat Ratna for his dedication and unconditional service to the nation. “In the past, Prime Ministers were awarded the Bharat Ratna while they were in office. Mr. Modi truly deserves the recognition due to his selfless work for the country,” Mr. Sahney said.

The exhibition features 76 paintings by artist Manjit Singh depicting the Prime Minister’s 25 years of public service. Mr. Shah and Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, who also attended the event, visited the gallery, after which a short film on Mr. Modi’s public service was screened.

Welcoming the dignitaries, Mr. Sahney described the exhibition as a tribute to the Prime Minister’s sustained commitment to public service and the people of India.