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Tension between Sikhs, Muslims over
new mosque in Lahore
WSN Bureau
LAHORE:
Initially, it
was a fight between two opposing Muslim groups in Lahore, and the
Sikhs remained silent because they thought good sense will prevail.
After all, the two Muslim groups were fighting over who a grave
belonged to – a grandson of Baba Farid Ganj Shakar or a governor of
Lahore. The problem was that the grave of contention was located
inside the Gurdwara in Lahore’s Naulakha Bazar, raised in memory of
Bhai Taru Singh, the man whom the
Sikhs remember
every single day all over the world in their ardas.
Now, it seems,
the construction of a sort of mosque has begun near the Gurdwara and
there has been some tension between the local Sikh community and the
Muslim residents of the area. There has been even talk of threats to
set ablaze the gurdwara if Sikh protested construction of the
mosque. Sections of the media have reported that the residents of
Naulakha Bazar had reportedly contributed for the construction of a
mosque near the gurdwara, which was opposed by the Sikhs.
SGPC president
Avtar Singh Makkar has urged PM Manmohan Singh to take up the issue
with his Pakistani counterpart to ensure the safety of minority
communities in Pakistan, besides restoring the honour of Sikh
religious places. The WSN had reported in February this year that
the ‘531st urs’ (death anniversary) of Pir Shah Kaku was held at
this ‘shrine’ inside the Naulakha Bazaar Sikh gurdwara happened
despite a ban by the government on the event. A rather interesting
story did the rounds in the area as the caretaker called Yasin
claimed that Pir Shah Kaku, who died 531 years ago, appeared in his
dream on
July 8, 2007
and told him about his (the saint’s) grave being inside the gurdwara.
Yasin said he
‘found’ the grave, piled more sand on it and decorated it. Soon,
Sohail Butt, the new caretaker of the ‘grave’, claimed he had
confirmed the authenticity of the saint from 24 books but did not
care to name any book. Some locals think the grave was in fact that
of Mir Mannon, the former governor of Lahore and the idea of urs
celebration or the latest construction of the mosque was a tactic to
take possession of the precious land of the gurdwara.
The WSN had
earlier said that the Sikhs have long been demanding that the
Pakistan government extend better cooperation to the Sikhs to ensure
upkeep of their properties and religious shrines. The SGPC has been
making such demands but did little else apart from issuing the
statements. Evacuee Trust Property Board Additional Secretary
Khurram Saddique conceded that there had been a tussle between local
‘hooligans’ and the Sikh community on the issue but gave a new twist
to the row by saying that the ‘shrine’ and the gurdwara of Bhai Taru
Singh Ji were situated at the same place.
The row comes
close on the heels of Pakistan government enacting a law under which
Sikhs can register their marriages, thus giving them a right which
is not available to the community even in India. Sikhs have often
displayed great regard for Sufi saints and Baba Farid is a revered
figure for the community. In such a matrix, the Sikh community
considers it imperative that the Pakistan Government acts on its own
to protect the Sikh sentiments on the issue.
4
June,
2008
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