SGPC asks PM to hand over bus service management

Amritsar, Mar 24 (UNI) The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) demanded that the management of the bus service from Amritsar to Nankana Sahib, to be launched by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today, be handed over to it.

The SGPC had earlier announced to boycott the flag-off ceremony saying that it was a Congress rally.

However, a memorandum has been presented by SGPC president Avtar Singh to the Prime Minister stating that the bus had been launched exlusively for pilgrimage at the Golden Temple and Nankana Sahib on demand from the Sikh community and therefore, instead of the government or its agency, the management of the service should be entrusted upon the committee.

The SGPC has also demanded opening of a visa office in Amritsar for the benefit of the pilgrims.

A free corridor for Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib (Ravi) situated in Pakistan, is also demanded in the memorandum.

The SGPC also sought the government's intervention in grant of missionary visa for Bangladesh for 'granthis' employeed by it for service at Sikh shrines in that country.

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