Sikhs Lay Claim to Hardwar Gurdwara Destroyed by Hindu Mobs in 1984
NEWS REPORTS
The final resting place for many Sikhs, historically, has been Gurdwara Gyan Godri Sahib in Hardwar. It was built in memory of Guru Nanak.
However, this holy city of the Hindus - 200 km from India's capital, New Delhi - was where this iconic Sikh place of worship was demolished by Hindu mobs in 1984.
Now the Sikh community wants to restore the Gurdwara, which commemorates the famous parable of Guru Nanak's dialogue with the Hindus over their ritual of throwing water at the Sun for the benefit of their ancestors.
This restoration project falls under the Har Ki Pauri and will be facilitated by the local administration.
However, the Hindu administration plans to relocate the Gurdwara. Understandably, the Sikh community is outraged by this proposal.
Sikhs have therefore planned a march from Gurdwara Rakabganj in Delhi to the site in Hardwar on September 22 to underline their desire and intent to restore the Gurdwara, especially at its original location.
This is in direct contradiction to the position taken by the local Sikhs, who have - under intimidation by the majority community, have expressed agreement with the Hindu plan to relocate the Gurdwara to another place on the banks of a canal.
The President of The All India Sikh Conference, Gurcharan Singh said "The administration is offering land at an alternative site, but the Sikhs would not agree to this. We want to worship at the same place where Guru Nanak gave his message [against] meaningless rituals ... We have revenue records to prove that the land was in the Gurdwara's name.''
"This Indian government led the attack on Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar, alleging that it was an attempt to flush the complex of terrorists in 1984, but the question is why did the mobs also attack 76 other Sikh Gurdwaras across the country? The Sikh community is still waiting for the Congress government to acknowledge this tragic attack on its own people and compensation for destroying their places of worship," said the spokesman for "Punjab and Punjabis in Crisis".
[Courtesy: The Sikh Times]
September 15, 2010
NEWS REPORTS
The final resting place for many Sikhs, historically, has been Gurdwara Gyan Godri Sahib in Hardwar. It was built in memory of Guru Nanak.
However, this holy city of the Hindus - 200 km from India's capital, New Delhi - was where this iconic Sikh place of worship was demolished by Hindu mobs in 1984.
Now the Sikh community wants to restore the Gurdwara, which commemorates the famous parable of Guru Nanak's dialogue with the Hindus over their ritual of throwing water at the Sun for the benefit of their ancestors.
This restoration project falls under the Har Ki Pauri and will be facilitated by the local administration.
However, the Hindu administration plans to relocate the Gurdwara. Understandably, the Sikh community is outraged by this proposal.
Sikhs have therefore planned a march from Gurdwara Rakabganj in Delhi to the site in Hardwar on September 22 to underline their desire and intent to restore the Gurdwara, especially at its original location.
This is in direct contradiction to the position taken by the local Sikhs, who have - under intimidation by the majority community, have expressed agreement with the Hindu plan to relocate the Gurdwara to another place on the banks of a canal.
The President of The All India Sikh Conference, Gurcharan Singh said "The administration is offering land at an alternative site, but the Sikhs would not agree to this. We want to worship at the same place where Guru Nanak gave his message [against] meaningless rituals ... We have revenue records to prove that the land was in the Gurdwara's name.''
"This Indian government led the attack on Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar, alleging that it was an attempt to flush the complex of terrorists in 1984, but the question is why did the mobs also attack 76 other Sikh Gurdwaras across the country? The Sikh community is still waiting for the Congress government to acknowledge this tragic attack on its own people and compensation for destroying their places of worship," said the spokesman for "Punjab and Punjabis in Crisis".
[Courtesy: The Sikh Times]
September 15, 2010
