Prestigious Delhi gurdwara project hits a roadblock
Prabhjot Singh/TNS
Chandigarh, May 8
An ambitious Rs 300-crore project for the beautification and development of Gurdwara Raqab Ganj Sahib in the Capital appears to have hit a roadblock as its inauguration, scheduled for May 14, has been put on hold.
PM Manmohan Singh, who had initially agreed to lay the stone of the project, has quoted “political commitments” as a reason for his not being able to keep the appointment
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who had initially agreed to lay the foundation stone of the project, has quoted “political commitments” as a reason for his inability to keep the appointment.
The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee has now sought another date from the PM. A Sikh museum and a Sikh reference library form part of the project. The historic gurdwara is located in the vicinity of Parliament and other important offices of the Union Government.
The DSGMC had invitated some of world’s best architects, planners and developers for the project. Criticism from certain quarters, including the opposition group in the DSGMC besides the Shiromani Akali Dal, is said to be the reason for the Prime Minister reconsidering his decision to inaugurate the project.
Those opposed to the project have cited security concerns, saying that a multi-storey parking and the location of the reference library, study centre and the residential block may not be in tandem with the requirements laid down by the security agencies.
Historic buildings and monuments are not covered by building bylaws of local bodies, including the New Delhi Municipal Corporation. Sources in the DSGMC, however, say they have submitted copies of the project plan to the NDMC as well as other agencies. They claim that top security and intelligence agencies have already inspected the site after going through the plans. Divisions within the Sikh community in Delhi are reported to be the main reason for the delay in the project. The funding of the project, sources say, would be done by the Sikh community worldwide.
The project was conceptualised in 1995 with the DSGMC discussing the plans with the then Home Minister SB Chavan. Meetings were also organised with security and intelligence agencies, the Delhi Police and the SPG.
Plans were also shown to the Lieutenant-Governor and the Chief Minister of Delhi. The DSGMC has reportedly sent a letter to the Prime Minister, saying that since it is a prestigious project, he as the first Sikh Prime Minister should lay its stone.
Prabhjot Singh/TNS
Chandigarh, May 8
An ambitious Rs 300-crore project for the beautification and development of Gurdwara Raqab Ganj Sahib in the Capital appears to have hit a roadblock as its inauguration, scheduled for May 14, has been put on hold.
PM Manmohan Singh, who had initially agreed to lay the stone of the project, has quoted “political commitments” as a reason for his not being able to keep the appointment
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who had initially agreed to lay the foundation stone of the project, has quoted “political commitments” as a reason for his inability to keep the appointment.
The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee has now sought another date from the PM. A Sikh museum and a Sikh reference library form part of the project. The historic gurdwara is located in the vicinity of Parliament and other important offices of the Union Government.
The DSGMC had invitated some of world’s best architects, planners and developers for the project. Criticism from certain quarters, including the opposition group in the DSGMC besides the Shiromani Akali Dal, is said to be the reason for the Prime Minister reconsidering his decision to inaugurate the project.
Those opposed to the project have cited security concerns, saying that a multi-storey parking and the location of the reference library, study centre and the residential block may not be in tandem with the requirements laid down by the security agencies.
Historic buildings and monuments are not covered by building bylaws of local bodies, including the New Delhi Municipal Corporation. Sources in the DSGMC, however, say they have submitted copies of the project plan to the NDMC as well as other agencies. They claim that top security and intelligence agencies have already inspected the site after going through the plans. Divisions within the Sikh community in Delhi are reported to be the main reason for the delay in the project. The funding of the project, sources say, would be done by the Sikh community worldwide.
The project was conceptualised in 1995 with the DSGMC discussing the plans with the then Home Minister SB Chavan. Meetings were also organised with security and intelligence agencies, the Delhi Police and the SPG.
Plans were also shown to the Lieutenant-Governor and the Chief Minister of Delhi. The DSGMC has reportedly sent a letter to the Prime Minister, saying that since it is a prestigious project, he as the first Sikh Prime Minister should lay its stone.
