M A I N   N E W S

DSGMC leaders meet Pervez
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 15
A deputation of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) led by Mr Harwinder Singh Sarna, general secretary of the committee, met General Pervez Musharraf Pakistan President at Pearl Continental, a five star hotel, in Lahore today.

It is learnt that the deputation of the DSGPC has sought the personal intervention of General Musharraf for restoring ‘maryada’ (Sikh code) in all Sikh shrines of Pakistan. The deputation of the DSGMC urged the Pakistan President to help renovate the Sikh shrines which are in a dilapidated condition. When contacted, Mr Parmjit Singh Sarna, President, DSGMC, New Delhi, confirmed that a deputation led by his younger brother (Mr Harwinder Singh Sarna) had met General Musharraf during a ‘chance meeting’ at the five star hotel.

Earlier, Mr Harwinder Singh Sarna had sought Vatican status for Nankana Sahib — birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev. However, Dr Pritpal Singh had opposed the move on the plea that such a status could be given to the Golden Temple.

Mr Sham Singh, co-chairman, Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC), has already announced that the ‘maryada’ of Akal Takht would be implemented in all gurdwaras of Pakistan while addressing the Sikh sangat at Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Hassan Abdal. It may be mentioned here that Dr Pritpal Singh, convener, American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee had taken up the matter of the violation of ‘maryada’ in Sikh shrines of Pakistan following reports published in these columns.

Talking to TNS from Pakistan, Dr Pritpal Singh said a deputation of foreign-based radical Sikhs, including Manmohan Singh Bajaj, a UK-based senior leader of the Dal Khalsa, Avtar Singh Sanghera, a leader of Babbar Khalsa International were likely to meet General Musharraf in Islamabad shortly so that issues related to the Sikhs and their shrines in Pakistan could be taken up.