Nabha gurdwara mgmt accuses Dharamsot group of land-grab bid
PATIALA: A controversy has erupted over the control of cashrich Gurdwara Sidhsar Sahib in the Nabha constituency with the gurdwara management committee accusing a group backed by forest minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot of trying to grab its land.
The committee has also accused the district administration of partisan attitude in handling the issue. The gurdwara owns over 300 bigha land (60 acres) at Aloharan Khurd village.
Gurdwara committee head Kashmir Singh said sewadar Narinder Singh is trying to take forcible possession of the gurdwara property at the behest of Dharamsot.
Now, Sant Samaj, the Aam
› It is matter between two gurdwara trusts and I had only asked to resolve the issue amicably. Neither I nor any of my supporter visited the gurdwara recently. SADHU SINGH DHARAMSOT, Punjab forest minister
Aadmi Party and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) have also joined the issue against Dharamsot who is MLA from Nabha.
Earlier, Dharamsot had hit the headlines for threatening a Nabha principal. He had also announced that he would not remove red beacon from atop his official vehicle when the Punjab chief minister had asked all ministers and officials to shun the use of beacons.
“The administration and the police are siding with the minister-backed group. On deputy commissioner Kumar Amit’s advice, we handed over the gurdwara golak keys to Nabha sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) and the police, but the other group party took away all cash the next day. How did they get the keys which we had given to the SDM?” said Kashmir Singh.
“A group of more than 40 people led by Narinder formed a parallel committee and trust by forging signatures. Even after opening golak, no money has been deposited in the gurdwara account,” he alleged.
He claimed the incumbent committee members were receiving death threats from the past few days for not allowing the rival group to harvest paddy crop on the land.
“The matter was reported to the civil and police administration but no action has been taken so far,” he said.
DC Kumar Amit said, “Since the matter is sensitive, we will try to get it resolved amicably between the two parties.”
Dharamsot said, “It is matter between two gurdwara trusts and I had only asked to resolve the issue amicably. Neither I nor any of my supporter visited the gurdwara in the recent past and have not even met any of trustees,” Dharamsot said.
Sant Samaj head Baba Sarabjot Singh Bedi, SGPC member Karnail Singh Panjoli and AAP leader Joga Singh Chapar said they will take up Dharamsot’s matter with CM Capt Amarinder Singh.