Amritsar, October 31 – Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami who returned India today from Pakistan after attending the centenary congregation of Shaheedi Saka (martyrdom massacre) Panja Sahib said that during the stay in Pakistan he visited to the Pakistan’s renowned family of Rai Bular Bhatti.
Rai Bular Bhatti who had donated 18500 acre land to Gurdwara Nankana Sahib in Lahore province of Pakistan, his descendent Rai Saleem Bhatti (44), an eminent lawyer at the Lahore High Court and 19th generation of Rai Bular Bhatti where the SGPC president along with other SGPC members visited his house.
Dhami said that he along with other SGPC members honored him at Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Pakistan with robe of honors, replica of Golden Temple, woolen shawls and set of Sikh religious books, thereafter they visited the Bhatti’s family at their residence.
Talking to media Bhatti from Lahore said that he was thankful to SGPC for installing the portrait Nawab Rai Bular Bhatti at the Central Sikh Museum situated in the complex of Golden Temple fortnight back on October 15.
“Rai Bular Bhatti Sahib was a staunch follower of Baba Guru Nanak Peer. The Bhatti family had donated 18500 acre land to Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of founder Sikhism Guru Nanak”, Dhami informed.
Dhami said that SGPC had invited the Bhatti’s family to attend the event on October 15 when program was schudled to install the portrait of Nawab Rai Bular Bhatti at the Central Sikh Museum but visa was denied by the Indian Authorities, the reason best known to them. He said that SGPC was thankful to Bhatti’s family for their contribution to Sikh community.
Expressing his sadness for not granting visa to him and his family to attend the event arranged by SGPC Rai Saleem Bhatti said, “ I along with my family longing to pay obeisance at the holiest Sikh Shrine Golden Temple. I am sure one day Baba Nanak would shower His grace from heaven while paving way to visit India and would create soft corner in the hearts of people sitting in the Indian Embassy”, he quipped
Bhatti said that it was not the first time whereupon he was not given visa to visit to India as earlier the same incident happened thrice, as first time in 2018, 2019 and 2020. The Indian embassy people every time said apply again after some time.
Being Muslim, Bhatti family has great respect for the Sikh religion and there is no doubt Baba Nanak is the Guru of Sikh community but also Peer for Muslims since during the life time of Baba Nanak’s majority of the followers were from Muslims and Baba Nanak has respect for the people from all religion’s”, said he.
SGPC President raised an objection to the Indian government that the SGPC had sent several invitations to the descendants of Nawab Rai Bular Bhatti in Pakistan, requesting them to attend the ceremony of installation of his portrait, but they could not attend due to non-grant of visas. The SGPC wanted Bhatti’s descendants to be present on this occasion. He said that SGPC would always extend a warm welcome to Bhatti’s family on their visit to Golden Temple.
