SGPC to reconsider stand on world heritage issue

Amritsar, Apr 22 (UNI) The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Commitee (SGPC) would reconsider and discuss the issue of providing world heritage status to the Golden Temple at its executive body meet being held at Fatehgarh Sahib on April 25.

Talking to newsmen here today, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said a decision to this efect was taken following the directions of Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission in this regard.

The Commission in its recent verdict on the petition filed by Dal Khalsa organisation has directed the SGPC to reconsider its stand.

Former SGPC President Kirpal Singh Badungar had initiated the move for providing ''world heritage status'' to the religious shrine ''Harmandir Sahib'' and sent a proposal to UNESCO during his tenure in 2003.

However, his successor Bibi Jagir Kaur had withdrawn the proposal in 2005 despite the fact that the SGPC had spent more than Rs 20 lakh on preparing a dossier for UNESCO for the purpose. She had then claimed that it would be an interference in the affairs of the Sikh community.

Following this the Dal Khalsa had filed a petition for directions to the SGPC for re-initiating the procedure for the recognition of Golden Temple as a world heritage.

The three-member Judicial Commission in its judgement had then directed the SGPC to reconsider the decision.

UNI XC PS LS RAI1954