The District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (DGPC) in Baramulla has officially abandoned the proposal to rename Gurdwara Bhai Vir Singh in Gulmarg, putting an end to weeks of speculation. The decision was taken after strong sentiments were expressed by the local Sikh community against the proposed change.
Proposal Withdrawn Amid Community Opposition
Reports had earlier suggested that a proposal was mooted and allegedly even announced publicly to rename the gurdwara after the second Sikh Guru, Guru Angad Dev. However, Paramjit Singh, chief of the DGPC, confirmed that the proposal has now been formally annulled. We have conveyed to the sangat that if they want, the name of the gurdwara would not be altered, he said.
SGPC Member Clarifies Role
Gurinder Singh Bawa, a member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) from Maharashtra, clarified that his name was being unnecessarily dragged into the issue. It was misleading and incorrect that I had ever insisted upon any particular name for the gurdwara, he stated. Bawa explained that while he had been associated with a Trust bearing Guru Angad Dev's name nearly two decades ago, the Trust has remained defunct for years.
Allegations of Property Control
The controversy also saw allegations from DGPC member Manmeet Singh, who claimed that the proposed name change was an attempt to assert control over the gurdwara property. He alleged that Bawa was linked to the Trust, implying a possible conflict of interest. Bawa strongly refuted these claims, noting that he had donated around Rs 50 lakh in two instalments directly to the DGPC for the reconstruction of the gurdwara, which had suffered damage three decades ago.
Renovation Work Continues
Despite the controversy, Bawa reiterated his commitment to the renovation project. He clarified that the suggestion to rename the gurdwara after a Sikh Guru stemmed from a general sentiment that gurdwaras should be named after Gurus rather than individuals. The renovation work is currently underway at Gurdwara Bhai Vir Singh in Gulmarg.
