Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Amritsar
The revamp plan for the local railway station has invited the ire of Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Sikh organisations as they say that the blueprint has a saffron tinge to it, thus ignoring the Sikh heritage of the holy city.
Under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode, the Indian Railways Station Development Corporation (IRSDC) is revamping the station at a cost Rs300 crore. What has raised the hackles of Sikh organisations is a proposal to construct a lotus-shaped pond at the main entrance.
Architecture must reflect city’s religious significance’
About one lakh devotees from all over the world pay obeisance at the Golden Temple daily. Many of them reach the city by train. So, architecture of the railway station and structures to be installed there must reflect the religious significance of the city.
Gobind Singh Longowal, SGPC president
Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh said he did not agreed to the proposed plan, while describing it as an attempt to tarnish the heritage of the holy city and instead glorifying a particular party’s symbol.
“How could they ignore that fact that Amritsar, where the Golden Temple is situated, was established by Guru Ram Das. The proposed design of the pond will be rejected straightaway,” he said.
SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal appealed to the IRSDC to review the proposed design of the pond and instead focus on Guru Nagri’s historic significance. He said the SGPC would soon convene a meeting with IRSDC officials to discuss the matter.
Takht Damdama Sahib former Jathedar Giani Kewal Singh said, “The lotus-based theme is not commensurate with the heritage and culture of Amritsar. It could have been implemented in any state other, but not Punjab which is a land of Sikh Gurus and peers.”
State BJP president Shwait Malik, however, said the matter was being raked up unnecessarily to give it a political colour. “How can lotus be associated with the BJP only? The domes of the railway station building will be matched with the ones located over the Golden Temple. The domes will be painted in red, giving the impression of a heritage building. The model of the Golden Temple, which is at the entrance, will be part of the revamp plan. I, however, cannot comment over its location as the plan is yet to be finalised,” he said.
When pointed out that a ‘khanda’ as high as a 27-storey building was proposed during a presentation of the revamp plan shown on July 23, 2017, Malik said he could not recall it. “I cannot comment on it as I don’t remember if it (khanda) was there,” he said.
Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla said the matter would be discussed during a meeting of the district monitoring committee. The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of the Ferozepur division will attend the meeting. “If the design is found to be objectionable, it will be sent to the PM’s office for review,” he said.
