Kashmir Sikhs who lived here have sought the intervention of Prime Mister Dr. Manmohan Singh to initiate diplomatic efforts with Pakistan government for the reconstruction of the historic Gurdwara of sixth Sikh Guru Shri Hargobind Ji at village ‘Naloochhi’ near Muzaffarabad which has been converted in to the police lines in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK).
Sarwan Singh, president, Central Committee All Jammu and Kashmir Refugee (1947) said here on Friday that a six member delegation led by him visited Muzaffarabad (POK) from October 9 to October 23.
He said that a formal request will be given to Prime Minister in due course. He however appealed Punjab government and SGPC to use their good offices for the purpose.
The native village of Sarwan Singh is Kotli in district Muzaffarabad and when he came here after the partition was just 24. He said that all the delegation members found that Gurdwara Sahib now converted in to the police lines of Muzaffarabad.
The other delegation members, who visited the place, were Gajinder Singh, Saran singh, Rajinder Singh, Kulwant Singh and master Kartar Singh.
Master kartar Singh, whose Great grandfather Suba Singh was Mahant of Gurdwara in 1831 said, that Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Kanwar Sher Singh Visited the Gurdwara and paid obeisance. He had offered and transferred 100 bigha land in the name of Gurdwara along with other offerings.
The all 6 Sikhs spent all the time in the house of their aunt on of the member whose family was converted into Islam and the neo-converts in POK are called Sheikhs.
Sarwan Singh Further said that at the time of partition the population of Sikhs were seventy thousands. He said that majority of Sikhs were migrated and other were either converted or killed by Muslims.
He said that they all met teh president of POK Raja Zulqarnain Khan during dinner hosted by him in president house. He said that they demanded that Government of Pakistan and POK should give back the land and building to Sikhs and Gurdwara would be constructed as Gurdwara “Chatti Padshahi” in the memory sixth Sikh Guru Shri Hargobind Ji. He added that Raja Khan has assured them that police lines will be shifted from the historic place.