SRI AMRITSAR, Punjab—A ‘bunga’ associated with Baba Jiwan Singh Ranghreta could not be inaugurated at Sri Darbar Sahib Complex as a local court ordered to put off the inauguration. The Court issued its order keeping in view the ongoing tussle between rival factions of Ranghreta community.
Various community leaders, including Punjab Assembly Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal and Cabinet Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike, had also reached here for the inauguration ceremony, but it had to be postponed at the last moment due to orders by a local court. However, the ‘Bhog’ ceremony of Sri Akhand Path Sahib held to mark the occasion did take place.
Various organisations associated with Baba Jiwan Singh Ranghreta Dal had been demanding for the past sometime that a ‘bunga’ named after Baba Jiwan Singh Ranghreta should be constructed along side the ‘Parikarma’ at Sri Darbar Sahib. They contended that the ‘bunga’ existed there earlier as per the history. In view of their demand, the SGPC had constructed a symbolic structure where Sri Akhand Path Sahib was organised on Friday.
SGPC’s junior vice-president Kewal Badal and other SGPC officials too had reached the city to participate in the event on Saturday. Though the stage was set for its inauguration, an organisation associated with Ranghreta community raised an objection over the name and upkeep of ‘bunga’ and took the matter to the court which granted a stay on its inauguration.
Meanwhile, a demand has also been raised to rename the ‘bunga.’ At present the SGPC has named it “Bunga Majhabi Sikha”. However, Sikh leaders say it is against the Sikh tenets which don’t differentiate with anyone on caste lines and therefore it should be named after Baba Jiwan Singh.
