Anandpur Sahib Heritage Street Work Halted; Meghalaya Minister Supports Sikh Claim

The Sikh Gurdwara Prabandak Committee (SGPC) has halted work on the Heritage Street project in Anandpur Sahib, initiated by the Panjab government’s Tourism Department. SGPC stopped contractors from digging foundations for the street’s gate, citing concerns over obstructing the view of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib (KS). Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Eternal Throne, AT) Jathedar (leader) Kuldeep Singh Gargajj stated that the project wasn’t discussed with SGPC and emphasized that changes around KS require consent from the Sikh Panth (collective). The Tourism Department claims the plan was approved by SGPC. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami didn’t respond to inquiries. Meanwhile, in Shillong, Meghalaya Jathedar Gargajj participated in a nagar kirtan (religious procession) organized from Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Laitumkhrah, which culminated at Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar, Punjabi Lane. It was followed by a Sikh community meet attended by a large number of devotees from across Meghalaya, Assam and other parts of the Northeast. Jathedar Gargajj asserted that AT and Sikhs across the world stood firmly with the Sikhs living in Punjabi Lane. He said that protecting the rights and interests of the minorities in the country was the foremost duty of the governments and made a special appeal to the Sikh organizations worldwide to raise their voice if any injustice was ever committed against the Sikhs of Shillong. Addressing members of the community at Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar in the presence of Jathedar Gargajj, Meghalaya minister Sanbor Shullai said, 'I can assure you that the government stands with the Sikh community here.' Concurrently, the Assamese Sikh Council held a special convention on 14 Dec at the Barkola Central Gurudwara, located in the Assamese Sikh-dominated Barkola area of Nagaon. The event was to revive the Council’s activities after a long period of inactivity. While Sikhs had migrated to Assam as mechanics and carpenters during the British rule, the Sikhs of Barkola had migrated there in 1823 as soldiers of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s army to fight alongside Ahom king Chandrakanta Simha in the Battle of Hadirachaki against invading Burmese forces (earlier coverage).