The Hindu : New Delhi News : Nankana Sahib upkeep should not go to SGPC: Amarinder

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 25, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Nankana Sahib upkeep should not go to SGPC: Amarinder

The TWO CHIEFS: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh at a function to felicitate him in New Delhi on Sunday. Photo: V. Sudershan.

NEW DELHI: Enamoured with Pakistan's upkeep of Guru Nanak's birthplace, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has urged his counterpart in that country never to hand over Nankana Sahib's management to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

``It is so beautifully maintained... with fountains, gardens all over that I told Chaudhary Pervez Illahi during my recent visit there to never ever allow (SGPC chief) Bibi Jagir Kaur and her group to take charge of its administration,'' disclosed Capt Singh at his felicitation by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) today.

This was the first time any gurdwara administration chose to honour a Congress Chief Minister of Punjab for his ``services to the Panth (community)'', an Akali domain.

``They (the SGPC) have destroyed history,'' Capt Singh remarked as he cited blanket use of marble, granite and gold at historic Sikh sites by the top religious management.

``At Damdama Sahib, there is no sign of the room where the Guru took rest and at Paonta Sahib, one does not find Mata Gujari's room. Instead, they have created something else all over,'' the Chief Minister said.

However, he made no comments at the same marble and gold-plated designing of historic gurdwaras in Delhi where the Sikh leadership thanked him for his moves over the religion's shrines in Pakistan during his visit there.

Capt Singh also listed out his economic initiatives in Punjab during his three years in office, contrasting them with the five-year term of his bete noire and Akali chief Parkash Singh Badal. ``We achieved an increase of eight million tonnes in agriculture production from the 22 million tonnes left by Mr Badal who claims to be the champion of farmers. We have added 5,000 crore to the rural economy,'' Capt Singh said. Also, the Punjab government has cleared 27 mega projects of over Rs 100 crore each in an effort to step up development of the state, the Chief Minister added. A special committee under his leadership has been empowered to approve such high-investment projects without delay.

Capt Singh also defended his controversial moves over water accords with the neighbouring states. ``We will put up a strong defence of our action in court. We have to see the interests of the people of Punjab and are ready for this legal battle,'' Capt Singh said, referring to the case of the SYL landing in the Supreme Court after the Punjab Assembly cancelled the previous inter-state river water treaties.

In her address, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit also praised Capt Singh for his ``courage'' to take a stand on the SYL. - UNI

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