SGPC president seeks Punjab CM’s intervention on pending administrative issues

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 29

SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur has sought Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh’s intervention in revoking the land acquisition of Gurdwara Amb Sahib located in Mohali.

During a meeting with the CM on Tuesday, Bibi Jagir Kaur also sought his approval on the maps of new inns and installation of solar power plant in the Golden Temple complex.

She said, “GMADA wanted to acquire about 12 acres of Gurdwara Amb Sahib land at Mohali which the Punjab Chief Minister has been asked to stop. It is gurdwara’s assets which should not be taken away forcibly in the name of development”.

Regarding other issues, Bibi Jagir Kaur said that the issue of solar system being installed at the shrine complex was also taken up with the Chief Minister.

“The proposal was to install a 2.2 megawatt (MW) solar system. Due to lack of space nearby, it has been planned to install it at the land of Gurdwara Satlani Sahib. We appealed the CM to facilitate clearance in this regard”, she said.

The CM has also been asked to immediately release nearly Rs 43 crore scholarship funds of the scheduled caste (SC) quota of SGPC’s educational institutions. The balance from the year 2017 to 2019 has not been released yet.

Apart from this, the SGPC president has also asked Punjab CM to issue instructions for passing the maps of new sarais. The CM has also been asked to hand over the Bassi Pathana Jail at Sri Fatehgarh Sahib to the SGPC and sought nod to start the renovation work of Diwan Todar Mal’s Haweli (mansion).

Bibi Jagir Kaur said, “Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru was kept in Bassi Pathana Jail and it must be preserved as a Sikh heritage. The management should be given to the SGPC so that it can be taken care of in a befitting manner to preserve the heritage intact.”

The SGPC president said that Capt Amarinder Singh responded positively to all issues.

During the meeting with the Punjab CM, SGPC executive committee member S Ajmer Singh Khera, member Bibi Paramjit Kaur Landran, OSD to SGPC president Dr Sukhbir Singh and S Inderpal Singh and others were present.

The SGPC president said that during the meeting she had invited Capt Amarinder Singh to attend the function being organised to mark the 400th birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

“In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the centenary celebrations are being held in a symbolic manner and no large gathering of sangat is being organised. The ceremonies would be held from April 29 to May 1 at Amritsar.”

Meanwhile, Bibi Jagir Kaur appealed to the Punjab CM to relax the lockdown on Saturday and Sunday keeping in view the centenary celebrations. She said that although lockdown has been ordered due to worsening situation of Covid-19 but the sangat which want to attend the centenary events with devotion should not be stopped. Bibi Jagir Kaur said that the instructions of the health department would be followed during the symbolic ceremonies.