Chandigarh: Rubbishing Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s claim that he was snubbed by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on the Kartarpur corridor issue, Punjab Local Bodies Minister Navjot Sidhu on Tuesday said Swaraj had assured him that the draft was ready and the letter would soon be sent to Pakistan.

In a separate letter sent to Swaraj, referring to the Pakistan government’s offer of opening the corridor, Sidhu said Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had held a meeting with all stakeholders and Sikh pilgrims’ yearning to visit Kartarpur Sahib would soon be fulfilled as they were ready to open the corridor.

Following the meeting between Sidhu and Swaraj on Monday, Harsimrat had claimed that the Punjab minister had made an unannounced visit to the External Affairs Minister and was “told that the matter was already being pursued by me and that he had no business making false claims”.

However, Sidhu rubbished her claim saying he would not do politics on the religious issue. “The appointment was taken in advance and the minister said that the draft of the letter was ready and would soon be sent to Pakistan,” he clarified in a press conference here.

He said former minister MS Gill accompanied him on his request as he had been pursuing the issue for long.

In a separate letter sent to Swaraj, referring to the Pakistan government’s offer of opening the corridor, Sidhu said Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had held a meeting with all stakeholders and Sikh pilgrims’ yearning to visit Kartarpur Sahib would soon be fulfilled as they were ready to open the corridor.

He said it was also reiterated by Pakistan Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry through a tweet and a video interview to the BBC Punjabi on September 7. Chaudhry had said that Pakistan is willing to open the corridor and is waiting for India’s formal affirmation.

Sidhu said he had requested Swaraj to send a formal request to the Pakistan government for an early agreement and opening of the Kartarpur Sahib passage immediately after the current monsoon session.