Amritsar: Let by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee appointed jathedar, the SGPC along with Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee and other Sikh bodies yesterday decided to form a 11 member committee to build a wave to ensure reconstruction of Gurdwara Gian Godari Sahib at Haridwar (Uttarakhand).
Notably Gurdwara Gian Godri, associated with Guru Nanak Dev, was built near Har Ki Pauri on the banks of the Ganga, but according to SGPC and DSGMC it demolished in 1978-79 in the name of development and beautification. The site is presently being occupied by an office of the Scouts and Guides.
From TOP – L to R: Giani Gurbachan Singh, Kirpal Singh Badungar, Manjit Singh GK, Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma, Baba Balbir Singh, Amarjit Singh Chawla, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Gurcharan Singh Grewal, Gurdeep Singh Bhatiya, Santokh Singh Sethi, Teja Singh Nirmale and Surinder Singh; Bottom: Views of gathering at Teja Singh Samundari Hall
A meeting called by SGPC at Teja Singh Samundari Hall (Amritsar) on Wednesday (May 24) was attended, among others, by SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar, DSGMC chief Manjit Singh GK, Giani Gurbachan Singh, Damdami Taksal and Sant Samaj chief Harnam Singh Khalsa, Shiromani Panthi Akal Budha Dal chief Baba Balbir Singh, Istri Akali Dal chief Bibi Jagir Kaur and Chief Khalsa Diwan general secretary Santokh Singh Sethi.
SGPC and DSGMC office bearers with Giani Gurbachan Singh during press conference
As per media reports it was decided during the meeting that a committee will be formed to lead the movement to reclaim Gurdwara Gian Godari Sahib.
It is notable that certain Sikh groups had been raising this issue and demanding reconstruction of the Gurdwara Sahib for past several years but this issue was largely ignored by SGPC, DSGMC or the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal). It is only recently that the SGPC, DSGMC and SAD (Badal) started taking interest in this issue. Though the move is seen was a welcome step from the point of the issue itself but it is believed that SGPC, DSGMC and SAD (Badal) are trying to restore their ‘good’ image amongst the Sikh masses. At the same time by installing Giani Gurbachan Singh, who was rejected as Jathedar by the Sikh masses after he had granted pardon to Dera Sauda Sirsa Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, as patron of the movement for Gurdwara Gian Godari the SGPC and other pro-Badals bodies are trying to re-build his image as Jathedar.