Book on 'derelict' gurdwaras in Pak, Afghanistan soon

AMRITSAR: International Bhai Mardana Yadgari Kritan Darbar Society has proposed to publish a book and prepare a video film of the ill-maintained gurdwaras in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Tibet, Baku (Russia) and Samarkand (Turkistan), said Harpal Singh Bhullar, president, IBMYKDS in a letter written to home minister L K Advani, a copy of which was released to the press on Wednesday.
Bhullar claimed that as many as seven out of 13 gurdwaras of Afghanistan were severely damaged during the US attack on the Taliban militia. Birs of many gurdwaras of Afghanistan had been burnt, said Bhullar.
These gurdwaras are Gurdwara Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Jalalabad, Gurdwara Bhai Nand Lal Ji Goa, Gurdwara Kotha Sahib (both in Gajni), Gurdwara Baba Sri Chandji, Gurdwara Bhai Kotha Sahib, Gurdwara Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Gurdwara Guru Har Rai Sahiball in Kabul, Gurdwara Nanak Dhak, Jalalabad, Gurdwara Khalsa Diwan and Chasma Sahib, Sultanpur.
Bhullar further claimed that during the US attack, Sikhs living in Afghanistan were also assaulted due to their mistaken identity with the followers of Osama bin Laden.
Out of 172 gurdwaras of Pakistan, only 20 were intact while the rest of them had been encroached upon by local Muslims for their personal uses, claimed Bhullar.
The other historical gurdwaras about which IBMYKDS was willing to prepare a report included Gurdwara Nanak Kalandhar near Mai Hawa in Mecca, Saudi Arabia and Gurdwara Thara Sahib, Baghdad, Iraq which houses the kharawan (slippers) of Guru Nanak Dev.
Bhullar urged the home minister to allow them to lead a Sikh jatha of about 100 pilgrims to Pakistan and Afghanistan from the Wagah land border for the purpose.