Sikhs to demonstrate for Gurdwara land

Sikhs from various parts of the country would converge at Haridwar on September 22 to press for their demand of getting back land of Gyan Godari Sahib, the 450-year-old gurdwara which was allegedly demolished during 1984 anti-Sikh riots. "Sikhs would travel to holy town of Haridwar on September 22 and stage a peaceful demonstration on the site where once the historical Gurdwara existed," President of All India Sikh Conference (Babbar) Gurcharan Singh Babbar told reporters here. Akaal Takht chief Jatthedar Gyani Gurbachan Singh and other Sikh leaders will arrive at Haridwar for the protest. Babbar claimed the gurdwara, which was built on the place where first Sikh Guru Baba Nanak Dev had spent a long time of his life, is even older than the Golden Temple and finds mention in religious books.The gurdwara was demolished during 1984 anti-Sikh riots and later local administration under Congress rule encroached upon the land, he alleged. The community has taken the decision to demonstrate after its repeated pleas to governments of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand as well as the Centre went unheard, Babbar said. The Conference has already written letters to President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India, Governors and Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand seeking help to get back the land, he added.

Cultural centre

A cultural centre would soon be set up with a cost of Rs 25 cr aiming at promoting literature, art, handicraft and culture in the state. On Thursday a high-level committee, which was chaired by Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva and attended by Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank discussed the modalities of setting up the centre and its operation and also invited suggestions from the experts in the field, a release from Rajbhavan said here. The meeting also decided to lay the foundation stone of the centre on 10th state formation day on Nov 9 this year, it said. A state-of-the-art auditorium having a seating capacity of 1000 people along with a vast parking, library and a cafetaria have also been proposed for the centre, it said.