National Assembly Punjab (Pakistan) Member Ramesh Singh says Sikhs residing in Pakistan safe

Ludhiana, October 28, 2013: Ramesh Singh, Member, National Assembly Punjab (Pakistan) has said Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and the whole Sikh community in Pakistan is completely dedicated to Sri Akal Takht and they can never be separated from Sri Akal Takht.

This was stated by Ramesh Singh while interacting with the selected media persons at the residence of the SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar here on Sunday evening. He had arrived at the Makkar’s residence to condole the death of Makkar’s son Tejinder Pal Singh Sony. He categorically stated that Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee is engaged in properly maintaining the historic Gurdwaras in Pakistan and said that they always give regard to the SGPC from depth of their heart.

He said there had arisen certain issues with regard to `Gurumaryada’ due to lack of mutual coordination, adding they are committed to resolve these issued as per the `Gurmat’ ideology, so that relations among the Sikhs residing on both sides of the Border should get further strengthened.

He revealed that he had invited the SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar to visit Pakistan. Replying to a question, he said he is making efforts for getting increased quota of Sikh pilgrims from India to Pakistan for pilgrimage of the historic Gurdwaras and also for simplifying visa system. He said this time three thousand visas have been issued by the Pakistan Government for pilgrimage to the Sikhs from India on the `Parkash Utsav’ of Sri Guru Nanak Dev. Of this a quota of 1,465 visas has been given to the SGPC.

To another question, he said around 15-20 thousand Sikhs reside in Pakistan and they are completely safe there. However, he admitted that there exists complete terror due to the prevailing terrorism in the Border States in Pakistan. But, the Hindus and the Sikhs residing in these Border States in Pakistan are living freely, he revealed.

Earlier, the SGPC president while speaking to Ramesh Singh said they completely recognise Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee. He assured to Ramesh Singh that the SGPC is ready to extend the services of engineers and architects for maintaining the Sikh heritage in Pakistan. He also said the SGPC is ready for sending good preachers and “kirtni jathas” to Pakistan for propagating and extension of the Sikhism in Pakistan.

On the occasion, the SGPC president honoured Ramesh Singh with a “Siropa” and presented him a “Sri Saheb”.  www.cityairnews.com

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