Golden Temple’s oldest ‘sarai’ Sri Guru Ram Dass Niwas to be razed

Amritsar, July 30

Amid criticism, the SGPC will be going ahead with its plan to raze the oldest ‘sarai’, Sri Guru Ram Dass Niwas, in the vicinity of the Golden Temple.

Yet, it assured that the heritage-looking facade would remain ‘intact’, apparently in memory of those killed here during the course of Operation Bluestar. The SGPC has proposed to construct a new building by demolishing the existing Sri Guru Ram Dass Niwas whose foundation stone was laid in 1931. It has 228 rooms and 18 halls.

Justifying the move, SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur said to house the increasing number of domestic and international devotees, it was decided to construct an additional accommodation making the best utilisation of the existing infrastructure in the complex.

“Only 125 could be used to accommodate visitors. Similarly, 15 halls were in bad shape and beyond repair. So, we have decided to demolish them to pave way for the 800 new rooms,” she said.

Sikh Sadhbhawna Dal chief Baldev Singh Wadala said it was yet another attempt by the SGPC to kill the heritage of the Golden Temple on the pretext of modernisation. — TNS