BBS Foundation rejects LG’s offer for installing statue of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur at Bhagwati Nagar

Jammu Tawi; Dec 28: Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Foundation took a strong exception to the
announcement made by LG Manoj Sinha wherein he declared that the Statue of Baba Banda Singh
Bahadur to be set up at Bhagwati Nagar near 4rth bridge. Foundation rejected the offer of J&K LG on
his visit to Digiana Ashram the other day,
Singh said it is a matter of concern for the entire Sikh Community of JKUT that such an announcement
was made which has hurt the feelings of the Singh Sangat who was not only the son of the soil but the
first Sikh ruler who was instrumental in rooting out the Mughal empire from this country.
It is pertinent to mention that the Kunjwani Chowk was demarcated by the JMC for installing the statue
after passing the resolution moved by Councilor  Inder Singh Ward No.44, in the General House
Meeting convened on 28.02.2020. Subsequently an amicable solution was agreed upon between
members of Rajput Community and Sikh that Gulab Dwar will be constructed at the Entry point of
Jammu and Statue of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur shall be installed at Kunjwani Chowk Jammu. After
that Kavinder Gupta wrote two  D.O letters Nos: PS/SPK/LA/R/1968, dated 22.06.2017 and other  D.O
No. PS/SPK/LA/R/2131, dated 14.09.2017 urging Director National Highway Authority of India, Jammu
for taking up the construction of Entry Gate of Jammu City; naming it as “Gulab Singh Dwar”  along
with the construction of a memorial/Statue of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur at Kunjwani and another D.O
was addressed to District Development Commissioner Jammu requesting him to release an amount of
Rs.20 lacs out of his Constituency  Development Fund (CDF) for construction of Statue of Baba Banda
Singh Bahadur at Kunjwani Chowk, Jammu. He further asked DDC Jammu that rest of the amount, if
required, will be released later on. Kavinder Gupta also announced in every Gurudwara Sahib during
Parkash Purab of Guru Sahiban that Statue of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur will be installed at Kunjwani
Chowk, but it is unfortunate that the announcement made by Manoj Sinha at such an occasion hurting
the sentiments of Sikh community.
Singh further stated that as on date more than 14 delegations met the LG and submitted number of
demands especially inclusion of Punjabi in JKUT Official  language Bill 2020, include Sikh youths of
Kashmir in SRO 425, include one Sikh member in JK POSC, implementation of National Commission
for Minorities in JK UT, Implementation of Anand Marriage Act 2012 in JKUT etc,  but though the Sikh
Community had the great hopes from   recent Visit of LG  at Gurudwara Sahib Digiana Ashram but
now they feels betrayed by the govt.
Prominent who were present in the Press Conference are S Jagpal Singh Cashier DGPC, S Rajinder
Singh Sudan Member Banda Singh Bahadur Foundation, S Bhupinder Singh, S Somnath Singh, S
Jatinder Singh, S Parvinder Singh, S Jagdeep Singh etc