Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 28: Sikh Progressive Front (SPF) along with various other Sikh organisations of the State demanded handing over the affairs of Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, Leh to the Sikh community of the State.
While addressing a press conference, Balvinder Singh, president Sikh Progressive Front & president Gurudwara Pathar Sahib (Leh) Development Trust (Regd) along with Rajinder Singh Sudan and Sarabjit Singh, Manjit Singh Member Secretary said that a trust in the name of Gurudwara Pathar Sahib (LEH) Development Trust has been framed which will pursue and facilitate the matter both with State and Central Governments for the settlement of the issue at the earliest.
The Trust has already taken up the matter with Minister of Defence Govt of India Rajnath Singh through Manjinder Singh Sirsa BJP MLA (Delhi) & president Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee Delhi and also with Governor J&K Satya Pal Malik. Singh shared the submissions made before the Defence Minister of India as well.
He said the Trust members urged upon the Defence Minister to redress demand for handing over the control of Gurudwara Pathar Sahib in Leh to the Sikh community for development, upkeep and raising of Gurudwara as a heritage sight.
Trust members further stated that heritage sight is a sacred place for the Sikh community as well as for the residents of Leh as the said place is blessed with the visit of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji more than five hundred years ago and Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji meditated there for quite some time and is depicted by large stone lying there with impression of the back of Guru Sahib in a sitting posture.
The historical Gurudwara was traced to its historical past in the year 1970 during the construction of Leh road and since then the Indian Army has been taking care of the said Gurudwara with utmost respect and religious sanctity.
That keeping in mind that this year is being celeberated not only in India but worldwide as 550th Birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji. It will be a befitting tribute to the Great Guru by constructing a proper Gurudwara building along with residential accommodation for pilgrims and tourists as well which will be possible only by handing over the Gurudwara to the Sikh Community.
The Trust, besides Chairman J&K State Gurudwara Parbandhak Board T S Wazir, will also include president SGPC Amritsar & president Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee and MLA Delhi Manjinder Singh Sirsa as co-opted members of the Trust.
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