AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—Following evacuation of over 1,000 villages after tensions spurred between India and Pakistan, plans have been announced to offer food and shelter at a number of Gurdwaras located close to the border. Namely, Gurdwara Baba Budha Sahib (village Thatha), Gurdwara Baba Budha Ji (Ramdas), Gurdwara Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdwara Bath Sahib Pathankot, Gurdwara Jaamni Sahib and Gurdwara Baba Bir Singh Rattoke have started providing accommodations and needed support.
Speaking with Sikh24 on September 2, SGPC additional secretary Diljeet Singh Bedi said that the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhik Committee has appointed a three member committee to help the residents of Indo-Pak borders whom houses have been evacuated by the Indian forces. “The committee has been asked to start probe of the situation and provide necessary support to assist all border area residents,” he said.
“Those needing any kind of assistance can depend on the Gurdwaras. We will provide needed support in this time of crisis to everyone, irrespective of religion or creed,” he told Sikh24.
SGPC Executive member Rajinder Singh Mehta, Secretary Manjit Singh and Additional Secretary Diljeet Singh Bedi have been appointed as committee members to look after the border residents. The committee has been tasked to provide food and shelter to everyone.
“Our teams have already started probing border area villages. The team is being led by Secretary Manjit Singh and he started the work on September 30,” Diljeet Singh Bedi informed Sikh24.
The Indian government had ordered to evacuate 10 kilometres area adjacent to India-Pakistan border on September 29. About 1,000 villages in Punjab have been evacuated till now while majority of border residents of Districts Gurdaspur and Pathankot are opposing the order of evacuation. Residents of these areas have said that their paddy crop was about to ripen so they can’t leave their residence.
Jasmanjot Singh from village Qadian, Punjab told Sikh24 that they are yet to receive evacuation orders, however everyone is ready to evacuate as soon as orders arrive.
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