SGPC seeks holy city status for Sultanpur Lodhi

Amritsar: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Thursday asked the Punjab government to declare

Sultanpur Lodhi

as holy city.

The demand was made by SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal after holding a meeting with various Sikh and religious bodies to seek suggestions for the yearlong celebrations to be held to mark the 550th birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhsim Guru Nanak Dev.

He said the first Sikh master lived in Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district for several years before going on his udasis (journeys). He said the SGPC would soon write a letter to the state government in this regard. “The birth anniversary functions will begin from Sultanpur Lodhi on November 22, following which functions will be held across the nation,” he said.

About the opening of Kartarpur Sahib corridor, Longowal said Pakistan had so far not given any formal proposal to India. “We will send our delegation to meet external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj for taking up the issue with Pakistan government,” he said.

He said that one of the prominent suggestions received from the gathering was to invite Sindhi, Nirmalay, Udhasi’s Shikligar, and Afghani Sikhs to participate in the celebration functions. “SGPC will hold a sarab dharma sammelan in Delhi and also open its office there with a secretary-level officer for the facilitation of devotees” he said.

The SGPC chief also expressed hope of resolution of the issue of Gurdwara Gyan Godhri in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, before the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. “We have approached home minister Rajnath Singh and hope the issue will be resolved soon,” he said.

Gurdwara Gyan Godri was built in the memory of Guru Nanak, who had visited the place.

Prominent among those who attend the last day of the meeting were Gurbax Singh Gulshan and Amarjit Singh Gulshan (both from UK), Gur Sahib Singh (Khalsa Aid), Dhanraj Singh (Chief Khalsa Diwan), Jagir Kaur (former SGPC president), Gurmukh Sigh (Kendri Singh Sabha, Tata Nagar), Gurmukh Singh (Indore) and Rattan Singh (Akhand Kirtani Jatha).


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