-Memorandum handed over to stop demolition of 200-year-old Gurdwara Sahib in Punjabi Colony in Shillong

Amritsar, September 25 – A delegation of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) today met the Mr. Donald Phillips Wahlang, Chief Secretary of the Government of Meghalaya and submitted a memorandum to immediately stop the proceeding of demolition of 200-year-old Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar located at the Punjabi Colony in Bara Bazar of Shillong by the state government.

In a statement issued here today, staged that recently, Gurjit Singh, President of Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar had approached the SGPC and Secretariat Akal Takht Sahib (highswt Sikh temporal seat) and informed that a high-level committee of the Meghalaya government had recommended the demolition of the concerned Gurdwara Sahib and other religious places located at Punjabi Colony in Bara Bazar, Shillong. Due to this, there was a severe resentment in the Sikh community in Shillong and across the country. Gurjit Singh had demanded that by intervening in this matter, action should be taken to keep the Gurdwara Sahib safe at the Punjabi colony site in Bara Bazar. Acting on this, according to the guidelines of SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami, a delegation comprising SGPC General Secretary Rajinder Singh Mehta, SGPC Member Advocate Bhagwant Singh Sialka and additional secretary Gurinder Singh Mathrewal reached Shillong to hold talks with the Meghalaya Government and strongly raised the voice of the local Sikhs.

Sharing information in this regard, SGPC General Secretary Rajinder Singh Mehta said that the Chief Secretary of the Meghalaya Government has been informed about the entire situation and it is expected from the state government it will stop the proceedings of recommended demolition immediately while respecting the sentiments of the Sikhs. He said that the primary duty of the government is to protect the religious sentiments of the people of every religion and community living in the state. He said that the case of demolition of the houses of the Sikh families living at Punjabi Lane in Shillong has been long pending and the Meghalaya government should continue the negotiation process to reach a mutually acceptable agreement while protecting the housing rights of the local Sikhs.

On this occasion, the convener of Save Shillong Sikhs organization Prof Jagmohan Singh and local Sikh representatives were also present.