NCM asks report on conversion of gurdwara into Buddhist site from Arunachal Pradesh govt

New Delhi: In response to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee's claim that a historical site connected to Guru Nanak Dev in Mechuka has been turned into a Buddhist temple, the National Commission for Minorities requested a comprehensive report from the chief secretary of Arunachal Pradesh on Monday.

The Commission said in a statement that it has taken note of the representation made by Sardar Harjinder Singh Dhami, president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), regarding the “conversion of the historical site associated with Guru Nanak Dev in Mechuka, Arunachal Pradesh into a Buddhist temple”. “As such incidents hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikh community and create a feeling of discrimination amongst them, the Commission has sent a letter to Chief Secretary, Arunachal Pradesh on 24.4.2023 seeking a detailed report in the matter for consideration of the Commission,” the statement said.

In another statement, the Commission said it has been brought to its notice that a person entered Gurudwara Sahib in Morinda, Punjab and “physically assaulted the priest/granthi performing the Akhand Path”. “He also disrespected Sri Guru Granth Sahib. However, in this case, the criminal was identified and legal action may have been taken. Punjab has seen a long history of communal violence which could have been averted if the criminal could have been penalised by the competent court and a free and fair enquiry conducted in all those cases,” the statement said.

In order to analyse why this is happening time and again and is not being prevented, the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has written a letter to the chief secretary, Punjab requesting a list of all cases of sacrilege in Punjab in the last 45 years, the statement said.

The NCM also urged the public to maintain peace and communal harmony.

With PTI inputs