New Delhi: Hours after Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) lost the management of Gurdwara Kartarpur to Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) of Pakistan. India termed the decision as “unilateral” saying the decision hurts the feelings of the Sikh community.
In its statement, the MEA condemning the unilateral decision by Pakistan said it runs against the spirit of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor as also the religious sentiments of the Sikh community at large.
Read the statement here:
We have seen reports about Pakistan transferring the management and maintenance of the Holy Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib away from the Pakistan Sikh Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee (PSGPC), a body run by the minority Sikh Community, to the administrative control of the Evacuee Trust Property Board, a non-Sikh body.
This unilateral decision by Pakistan is highly condemnable and runs against the spirit of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor as also the religious sentiments of the Sikh community at large. We have received representations from the Sikh community expressing grave concern at this decision by Pakistan targeting the rights of the minority Sikh community in Pakistan. Such actions only expose the reality of the Pakistani government and its leadership’s tall claims of preserving and protecting the rights and welfare of the religious minority communities. Pakistan is called upon to reverse its arbitrary decision to deprive the Sikh minority community it’s right to manage affairs of the Holy Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib.
Highly condemnable, against the spirit of #KaratarpurSahib corridor & religious sentiments of the Sikh community. Such actions expose the reality of Pakistan govt…: MEA statement on reports about Pakistan transferring the management and maintenance of Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib pic.twitter.com/E5avywUmkk
— ANI (@ANI) November 5, 2020
“Pakistan is called upon to reverse its arbitrary decision to deprive the Sikh minority community it’s right to manage affairs of the Holy Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib,” the MEA said.
Reacting to this DSGMC President Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, It’s unfortunate that Pakistan cabinet has handed over Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur’s management to an ISI organisation ETPB from Pakistan Gurudwara Committee, which is a Sikh organisation. A non-Sikh body will control historic Gurudwara.
It's unfortunate that Pakistan cabinet has handed over Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur's management to an ISI organisation ETPB from Pakistan Gurudwara Committee, which is a Sikh organisation. A non-Sikh body will control historic Gurudwara: DSGMC President Manjinder Singh Sirsa pic.twitter.com/P1mjLc9e1d
— ANI (@ANI) November 5, 2020
“Consequent upon the approval of Project Management Unit (PMU) Kartarpur Corridor by ECC of the Cabinet, and ratified by the Cabinet (conveyed by MoRA…dated 23.10.2020), the competent authority has been pleased to establish Project Management Unit (PMU), a self-financing body, for Management and Maintenance of Gurdwara Dardar Sahib Kartarpur (GADSK) under the administrative control of ETPB.” the official order by Government of Pakistan read.
According to sources, ETPB has appointed as many as nine officials and staff members at the newly set up PMU Kartarpur Sahib without a single Sikh member.
