SGPC lays stone for Guru Tegh Bahadur Memorial Complex near Golden Temple

The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) laid the foundation stone of the Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Memorial Complex near Akali Market, close to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, on Thursday to commemorate the 350th martyrdom day of the ninth Sikh Guru. Officiating Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, Golden Temple’s head granthi Giani Baljit Singh and SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami led the ceremony in the presence of several religious dignitaries and community leaders

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami explained that the memorial complex will be a large-scale project featuring more than 1,000 rooms for pilgrims, 25 halls, a market arena and spacious parking facilities. Dedicated blocks will honour Bhai Mati Das Ji, Bhai Sati Das Ji and Bhai Dyal Das Ji, who were martyred alongside Guru Tegh Bahadur. The project, long delayed due to tenant disputes, aims to accommodate the increasing number of devotees visiting Darbar Sahib. An initial budget allocation of Rs 10 crore was made in 2018-19 for the project's first phase.

Meanwhile, Dhami pointed out that the SGPC has historically marked major Sikh centenaries by establishing educational and commemorative institutions like Guru Gobind Singh Tri-Centenary College in Amritsar and the Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University in Fatehgarh Sahib.

He lamented that constructing such memorials should have been the state’s responsibility, but the present administration was “more invested in politics than in meaningful community projects.”

Giani Kuldeep Singh Gharghaj termed the 1,000-room project a “commendable tribute” that would help future generations stay connected with the legacy of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib’s supreme sacrifice. He also criticised the government for prioritising publicity over public welfare.

Earlier on the same day, the newly elected interim committee of the SGPC convened its first meeting under Dhami’s chairmanship, discussing matters related to gurdwara management, trusts and educational institutions.