Maryland, USA, June 1, 2026(Sameep Singh Gumtala)
Bhai Sawinder Singh, Coordinator of the Sri Akal Takht Sahib Sub-Committee for Religious Affairs (USA) and member of the Maryland Governor’s Interfaith Council, hosted a special gathering at his residence in Maryland to welcome Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, the visiting Minister for Minorities Affairs for Pakistan’s Punjab province.
The event brought together prominent Sikh community leaders to discuss the preservation of Sikh heritage, outline community demands, and strengthen people-to-people ties.
Advocating the Heritage Preservation
Sikh leaders welcomed Minister Arora and thanked the Pakistan government and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for prioritizing heritage conservation. Bhai Sawinder Singh praised the historic appointment of the first Sikh cabinet minister in Pakistan’s Punjab as a strong symbol of inclusion.
The delegation presented key demands for the continued maintenance, restoration, and renovation of historical Sikh shrines, including Sri Nankana Sahib. In response, Minister Arora reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to protecting these sacred sites and encouraged US-based Sikh youth to reconnect with their ancestral roots.
Call for Unhindered Access to Gurdwaras
Addressing the challenges of traveling to Sikh religious sites, Bhai Sawinder Singh emphasized that current unresolved issues between India and Pakistan heavily impact the Sikh community, often halting pilgrim groups (jathas) from India. Because their spiritual heritage rests in Pakistan, devotees suffer greatly when travel channels are strained.
He urged for cooperative communication and requested that the Kartarpur Corridor remain fully accessible, ensuring that devotees from Punjab and around the world can travel freely to pay their respects without hindrance.
Community Dignitaries in Attendance
The gathering included several prominent diaspora professionals, such as Gurpreet Takhar, Chair of the Governor’s Commission on South Asian American Affairs (GCSAAA), and Aman Shergill. Other distinguished guests included Balwinder Sangha, Meharban Singh, Dr. Jatinder Singh Sekhon, Surjit Singh Sidhu, Mandeep Singh, Bakshish Singh Ropar, and Ajit Dhaliwal, alongside other respected community elders.
Ceremonial Presentation
The meeting concluded with a gesture of mutual respect and a shared vision for the future. Bhai Sawinder Singh and the attending dignitaries formally honored Minister Ramesh Singh Arora by presenting him with a shawl and a ceremonial sword.
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