Gurdwara Gyan Godri to be built at Ranipur

Sikh organisations which had been demanding the construction of the gurdwara at Har-ki-Pauri have now cleared the new site

Haridwar, November 18

The controversy surrounding the construction of Gurdwara Gyan Godri seems to be coming to an end as Sikh organisations that had been demanding the construction of the gurdwara at Har-ki-Pauri have now agreed to its construction at Ranipur.

Sikh organisations had been demanding that the gurdwara be constructed at Har-ki-Pauri, where there used to be a Sikh shrine a few decades ago and Guru Nanak Dev had stayed
during 1504-05.

Under the aegis of the Uttarakhand Gurdwara Gyan Godri Sangharsh Samiti, representatives of various Sikh organisations yesterday visited the site earmarked by the Uttarakhand Government at Ranipur (Chandracharya chowk) adjacent to the Ganga canal.

Gurdeep Singh Sohta, a member of the 20-point Programme of the Uttarakhand Government, said this was the best place for the construction of the gurdwara.

However, as a major portion of the Ganga canal is being operated by UP in Haridwar, a Sikh delegation had recently met Uttar Pradesh Transport Minister Ram Achal Rajbhar to demand their approval so that the construction could start at the earliest.

Daljit Singh Maan, chief of the samiti, expressed hope that both the Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh Governments would respect the sentiments of the Sikh community and complete the administrative procedures regarding the construction of the gurdwara at the earliest.

According to Sikh frontal organisations, Gurdwara Gyan Godri used to exist near Har-ki-Pauri. However, in the ’70s, it was demolished in the name of renovation. Later, the land was handed over to Bharat Scouts and Guides, where their office still exists. Since then, Sikh organisations had been demanding the allocation of the same place so that they could reconstruct
the gurdwara.

Gurdwara Gyan Godri Parbandhak Committee chief Harjit Singh Duwa, Gol Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Tek Singh Sandhu, Kulwant Singh Wirk and Nazar Singh Chima were also present on the occasion. 

Uttarakhand Gurdwara Gyan Godri Sangharsh Samiti members inspect the Ranipur site which the state government has earmarked for the construction of the gurdwara in Haridwar.