Dalits threaten stir against GLADA’ s demolition notice

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 24

The Dalit community members have blamed the Greater Ludhiana Development Authority (GLADA) for issuing a notice for the alleged demolition of gurdwara of Guru Ravidas at Jamalpur Awana on Chandigarh Road. They have threatened to agitate if any action will be taken against the gurdwara.

The GLADA has served a notice to the president of gurdwara committee regarding the alleged unauthorised possession over PUDA/GLADA land. The community members claimed that their sentiments were hurt when the Ravidas temple in Tughlakabad, Delhi, was demolished. If the state government demolishes the gurdwara here, they would be forced to come on the roads to mark protests, they said.

The community members conducted a meeting at the gurdwara today and announced to oppose the notice. They warned the government not to demolish the gurdwara. The president of gurdwara committee, Manjit Singh, said: “We have received a demolition notice from GLADA. It is totally wrong and we strongly oppose the notice. When India and Pakistan were divided, our family had shifted from Pakistan to Jamalpur. The village panchayat had provided the land and they had got the gurdwara constructed here with income generated by doing hard work. We appeal to the government not to demolish the gurdwara.”

Harpreet Singh, a resident at Chandigarh Road, said: “We will give a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner and Police Commissioner on Monday. A request will be made to them not to demolish the gurdwara. If any damage is done to the structure, our religious sentiments will be hurt.”

On the other hand, GLADA Estate Officer, Sonam Chaudhary, stated that the notice was not for demolition of the structure. She said they had issued a notice on the directions of Punjab and Haryana High Court regarding four shops and a gate of the gurdwara. The eviction notices, on the directions of the court, were also served to 80 shops on Chandigarh Road under the jurisdiction of GLADA, she added.