Chandigarh, March 3, 2020 (Yes Punjab News)
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today honoured the Saharanpur Masjid committee which gave up its claim to alternative land to build a mosque to solve a dispute with Sikh brethren in gratitude for the support extended to community members during the recent communal clashes in North-East Delhi.
This resolves a ten year old dispute between the Sikh and Muslim community of Saharanpur which erupted when city’s gurdwara committee purchased a piece of land to expand the gurdwara complex.
The imbroglio, which had resulted in violence also, had reached the Supreme Court following which the Muslim community had given up its claim after being offered an alternate piece of land by the gurdwara management. Subsequently Rs 60 lakh was spent in purchasing the land and getting it registered by the gurdwara management.
Giving details of the agreement, SAD Uttar Pradesh Incharge Prem Singh Chandumajra said he had been holding meetings in this regard for nearly one year and the peaceful resolution of the ten year old dispute was a historic example of reconciliation between two communities.
He said Moharram Ali Pappu while representing the Masjid Committee today even returned the Rs 60 lakh cheque and also pledged that the Muslim community of Saharanpur would do ‘kar sewa’ for the new additions in the gurdwara complex.
Moharram Ali Pappu and SAD leader Gurpreet Singh Bagga were honoured on the occasion by the SAD President. The Muslim delegation which participated in a programme at the SAD office also honoured Mr Sukhbir Badal on the occasion as part of a thanksgiving gesture.
Community members including Moharram Ali said they were moved to resolve the dispute with their Sikh brethren when they learnt of the steps taken by the DSGMC and Delhi SAD unit which organised ‘langar’ and even distributed medicines to affected persons besides extending support to them in every way.
Speaking on the occasion in Delhi, Mr Sukhbir Badal said the unconditional reconciliation between the Sikh and Muslim community had set an example of how differences between different communities could be bridged in the spirit of cooperation and mutual well being.
Others present on the occasion included senior leader and mp Balwinder Singh Bhundur, DSGMC President Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Delhi SAD President Harmeet Singh Kalka and DSGMC members Mohinderpal Singh and Jatinder Sahni.
