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CM for Iraq gurdwara repairs
Prashant Sood
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 16
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said today he would write to American Ambassador to India Robert D. Blackwill for carrying out repairs and reconstruction of the historic gurdwara in Iraq which had “suffered damages’’ in the recent war.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi yesterday wrote to Punjab Chief Minister, suggesting that the state government should take the initiative to carry out he necessary repairs in the historic gurdwara in Baghdad which had suffered damages during the recent war in Iraq.

Describing Mrs Gandhi’s suggestion as “very good,’’ the Chief Minister told ‘The Tribune’ here that kar seva would be carried for repairs. He said the gurdwara was historic as Guru Nanak Dev had stayed there for a long time.

The Chief Minister said he would request the American Ambassador to “allow us to send a team to Baghdad to carry out the repairs,’’ adding that these will be carried out by the Sikh sangat.

Capt Amarinder Singh, who met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today, sought his intervention to resolve the long-pending Ravi-Beas river water dispute.

Capt Amarinder Singh also sought an early announcement of a package of industrial incentives for Punjab on the pattern of neighbouring states of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttaranchal and Himachal Pradesh.

Pak panel rejects SGPC plea
Says SGPC can’t control Pak gurdwaras

Nankana Sahib, April 16
The Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has rejected the demand of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to hand over the management and control of all Pakistan-based gurdwaras to the Amritsar-based body, PGPC co-chairman, Sham Singh, had said.

He said it was next to impossible as the SGPC could not look after the Pakistan-based gurdwaras while sitting in India.

He urged the SGPC to ask the Indian Government for providing visas to him so that he could hold talks with the Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti and SGPC Chief Kirpal Singh Badungar on the issue of maintaining “maryada” in all Pakistan-based gurdwaras.

Mr Sham Singh said if the SGPC was not in a position to arrange visas for him he could arrange the same for 40 SGPC members or more so that they could come to Pakistan and discuss the issue. PTI