London: Various UK based Sikh organisations, including United Khalsa Dal (U.K.), Charm Youth Jatha Damdami Taksal and International Panthic Dal, have opposed UNESCO proposal for ‘World Heritage’ status to Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar. These Sikh bodies have jointly written a letter to Mariya Bohmer, chairperson of UNESCO, stating that Darbar Sahib has a unique ‘Theo-political’ status and it’s neither a mere religious place nor a spot of tourism.
These organisations have pointed out that UNESCO’s ‘World Heritage’ status does not matter in case of Darbar Sahib as it’s de facto heritage of the humanity. United Khalsa Dal (UK) general secretary Loveshinder Singh Dallewal said that ‘World Heritage’ status by UNESCO involves various terms and conditions about ‘control and management’ of such heritages which would undermine the ‘Theo-Political’ status of the Darbar Sahib.
He also appealed to the Sikh masses to write emails to UNESCO chairperson opposing it’s controversial proposal.