Sikh community members gathered to pressurise the Government to allot land for reconstructing 459-year-old gurdwara near Har ki Pauri. A meeting was held on Sunday for the same at Sector 2 gurdwara in BHEl where the local head of the All India Sikh Conference asked all the community members to unite for the cause.
The AISC has written letters to the Prime Minister and President of India asking for security since the organisation fears threat from the senior ministers of the Uttarakhand government who would not allow them to enter the holy city and the sanctum sanctorum. It is pertinent to mention that it has been a routine for the past few years that the local administration does not allow the Sikh youths coming from various parts of the country in groups to enter the holy city to maintain law and order situation.
Speaking to The Pioneer over phone, president of the AISC Gurcharan Singh Babbar said, “Many comrades of our community have come forward even to sacrifice their lives if the demand is not met. The community plans a yatra from golden temple which would reach Haridwar on Kartik Purnima on 25th November, day of Guru Nanak Dev birth anniversary and culminate at Har Ki Pauri.
If not allowed under the banner of AISC, individual Sikhs shall approach for the cause, claimed Babbar. Pamphlets are being distributed in rural and urban areas of the district explicating the demolishing of gurdwara and steps being taken to restore the same.
An ardas diwas (prayer day) would be held on Nov 25, informed the local head of AISC Anup Sidhu and prayers offered by thousands of Sikhs at HarKi Pauri commemorating the Guru Nanak’s birthday and pledging for the reconstruction of the gurdwara at the site.
Gurdwara Gyan Godri
The first sikh mentor Guru Nanak Dev had visited Har Ki Pauri during 1504-05. In 1978, the gurdwara was demolished for beautification of the area. In 1984, it was handed over to Scouts and Guides, for which the Sikh community is pestering for the past 32 years. Guru Nanak Dev had given his message from this very place challenging the ‘Brahmanical rituals’ and serve the live creations (human beings) of God.
Meanwhile, the district magistrate Harbans Singh Chugh said that ample of security arrangements have been made in the district for the Kartik Purnima snan. “There is nothing to worry. All security arrangements have been made and district administration along with police will take care of law and order situation in the district. Though it is a long pending matter of the gurdwara, and cannot be resolved in one meeting but we will have discussions on the issue.”