Author:
Publication: Rediff.com
Date: August 21, 2007
URL: http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/aug/21sikh.htm
An 18th century Sikh temple at Naulakha Bazaar
in Lahore [Images] has been taken over by a Muslim group, which has replaced
the gurdwara's religious symbols with Islamic slogans, a Pakistani daily reported
Tuesday.
"They have taken over our temple, claiming
it as their own. They have stopped us from entering the premises for the past
two months," the Daily Times quoted Dr Mampal Singh, a representative
of the Sikh community, as saying.
He also claimed that the Evacuee Trust Property
Board -- which controls the Bhai Taro Singh Jee gurdwara -- was supporting
the intruders on their claim and not taking any action against them.
"We have written to ETPB on July 8 for
the restoration of the temple to us and the officials told us they would act
on the application within a month. But they haven't done anything yet and
the intruders are tightening their grip on our worship place," Dr Singh
said.
However, ETPB Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Zulfiqar
Ali Khan said that the ownership of the temple had not changed hands and refuted
the Sikhs claim of intruders being in control of the gurdwara by saying it's
"totally wrong".
"ETPB is in charge of the temple and
Muslims go there to pray for the saint, while Sikhs go there for their worship,"
he was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, the intruders told the daily that
they had decided not to vacate the temple and said that the entry of Sikhs
was prohibited and that ETPB had locked the doors. "The doors are locked
throughout the week and are opened only on Thursdays when we pray," they
said.
