Pakistan Gurdwara
Sacred grounds in peril: SGPC fights back against Pakistan giving away gurdwara land
In a startling development, the Pakistan Government’s decision to allocate a significant portion of the historic Gurdwara Nankana Sahib’s land has sparked widespread controversy and opposition from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
The SGPC has vehemently objected to this move and is urgently calling for an immediate halt.
The SGPC, led by Harjinder Singh Dhami, expressed its concern over the allocation of land that was originally donated in the name of Guru Ghar at Sri Nankana Sahib by a devout Sikh, Rai Bular Bhatti. The land, comprising 750 maraba, was a heartfelt tribute to Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, and has held historical and religious significance for centuries.
Dhami revealed that the SGPC received distressing information from Bhatti’s descendants, currently residing in Pakistan, indicating that the Government of Pakistan had decided to allocate approximately 60 percent of the Gurdwara Sri Nankana Sahib’s land to a trust for an unspecified purpose. Rai Bular Bhatti, a contemporary of Guru Nanak Dev, was a fervent devotee of Guru Ghar, and his generous donation was an expression of deep reverence for Sikh teachings.
The SGPC President emphasized that Bhatti’s family continues to maintain unwavering devotion to Guru Ghar, and the government’s decision has profoundly hurt their sentiments. Urging the Evacuee Trust Property Board of Pakistan to intervene and safeguard the properties of gurdwaras, Dhami also called upon the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee to file a case in the High Court of Pakistan against this controversial decision.
This unexpected development has raised concerns not only within the Sikh community but also among those who value the preservation of religious and historical sites. The Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, being intimately linked to the roots of Sikhism, holds immense cultural and spiritual significance. The SGPC’s objection underscores the need for a careful reevaluation of the decision to ensure the protection of religious heritage and communal sentiments.
As the SGPC takes a firm stance against the government’s move, the fate of Gurdwara Nankana Sahib’s land hangs in the balance, awaiting a resolution that reconciles the interests of all parties involved and upholds the sanctity of this revered site.
(Photo and text courtesy: Khalsavox.com)
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