2 wells excavated at gurdwara

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 21

The Kartarpur Langha organisation, a Sikh religious body, has claimed that two wells have been excavated at the historic Dera Baba Nanak Gurdwara.

The gurdwara already has a well on its premises, called Bowli Sahib. The SGPC is currently carrying out renovation of the historic gurdwara.

The SGPC had proposed to renovate the structure and passed a resolution on February 16. The service was awarded to a Tarn Taran-based volunteer organisation. It was proposed to expand the gurdwara hall and make amendments to “Bowli Sahib”.

However, its renovation came under the scanner after people alleged that the original structure and look of the gurdwara would be lost.

BS Goraya of the Kartarpur Langha organisation, who has been campaigning for a corridor to the historic Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, which is situated a few metres away in the Pakistani territory from the international border at Dera Baba Nanak, alleged that some kar sewa volunteers and SGPC officials demolished the newly discovered wells. He added that they were doing so in order to avoid maintaining them.

He stressed that there was a need to preserve the historic place rather than alter it. When contacted, SGPC chief secretary Roop Singh said a team of the Shiromani Committee would visit the historic gurdwara on Sunday to take stock of the situation. He said if possible all wells would be preserved.