Sangrur, Feb 7: A Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) panel on Tuesday deferred its visit to the Gurdwara Singh Sabha here, designed as a replica of the Golden Temple, after residents of over 20 villages of the district opposed any further changes in the design of the Sikh shrine.
The Akal Takht had directed the SGPC to alter the design of gurdwara, fill the sarovar there with sand and change the rooftop design.
The villagers assembled at the gurdwara after they heard about the visit of the SGPC panel. They passed a resolution, noting that adequate changes have already been made in the design of the gurdwara as per the directions of the Akal Takht.
They urged the Akal Takht and SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal to rein in people who wanted to take ‘political mileage’ out of the issue.
“The residents of the area will not allow filling up of the sarovar with sand. We never heard such instances in the Sikh history nor will we allow this to happen here. The people of over 20 villages reached here without any formal call. If someone tries to harm the gurdwara, we will fight it at any cost,” said Jaswant Singh, a gurdwara management member.
Villagers alleged that United Akali Dal general secretary Parshotam Singh Phaguwala, who sat on a hunger strike for four days last month demanding changes in the design of the gurdwara, was indulging in petty politics.
“Phaguwala wanted to emerge as a Sikh leader and played with the sentiments of the community,” said Sukhwinder Singh, a sewadar at the gurdwara.
It was after Phaguwala’s protest that the SGPC president had formed a four-member committee to probe the issue.
However, SGPC panel member Bhupinder Singh Bhalwan said, “We were busy at some religious function today. The team members will definitely visit Mastuana Sahib soon and submit a report to the SGPC president after on-the-spot assessment.”
Meanwhile, the police had made tight security arrangements around the gurdwara premises.
News Source: /www.hindustantimes.com
