With the Sikh community staging demonstration near the Prem Nagar Ashram bridge while demanding construction of Gyan Godri Gurudwara, leaders of some political parties are visiting the protest site to lend support to the cause. People coming in their hordes, community kitchen service and regular recitation from Guru Granth Sahib (holy scripture) is being carried out.
Notably, about a month ago, the agitators had instituted ‘Nishan Sahib’ at the protest site. The officials say that the land where they are demanding the Gurudwara to come up being still under Uttar Pradesh irrigation department, the transfer of document to Uttarakhand is still pending. However, a section of the community people are still insisting that the Gurudwara at Har Ki Pauri, hallowed with the visit of the founder of the sect Guru Nanak Dev, should be given back to them,
It is pertinent to mention here that the first Sikh mentor Guru Nanak Dev had visited Har Ki Pauri during 1504-05. It is believed that Guru Nanak Dev had given his message from this place preaching for equality for all human beings. In 1978, the Gurudwara was demolished for beautification of the area. In 1984, it was handed over to Scouts and Guides. Since then, the Sikh community people have been demanding the restoration of the hallowed Gurudwara. To end the logjam, the district administration had given the Gyan Godri Committee four choices for founding the Gurdwara and one of them is the place near Prem Nagar Ashram.
On Saturday, the Sikh community people prayed simultaneously at different Gurudwaras based in Roorkee, Vikas Nagar and Haridwar and demanded the same. As a group was heading for Har Ki Pauri to perform combined Ardas (prayers) police stopped them and sent them to police line. Besides, 24 members were detained before being released.
The agitators said that they had met the ministers and the administrative officials several times in the past with the demand and they have assured of initiatives to take the matter of the transfer of the documents to the state. But nothing has happened so far, they said.
In October last, Uttar Pradesh irrigation minister Shiv Pal Singh Yadav had assured the Sikh community delegation which met him in lucknow that the land would be soon allotted to them for the construction of Gurudwara. Besides, the former chief minister Harish Rawat had also given them the assurance of full cooperation about the land being given soon to the community.
Speaking to The Pioneer, president of the district Sikh Youth Federation Anup Singh Sidhu said that despite verbal assurances being given since 2003, they are yet to get a written assurance on the matter. “The district administration had given the Gyan Godri Committee four choices for making Gurdwara and one of them is the place near Prem Nagar Ashram. We selected the land accordingly. A Nishan Sahib was later instituted there and free langar for the visitors is being hosted on the anniversaries of the Sikh gururs. We need the final documents from the government which are eluding us for long,” he said.