Mangu Mutt safe, Bains duo spreading rumours: SGPC

AMRITSAR: Ruling out the claims of the Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) leaders Simarjeet Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Tuesday said historical Mangu Mutt associated with Guru Nanak and other historical buildings at Puri in Odisha are safe and the two brothers are misleading people to gain political mileage.

After visiting the Mutt to take stock of the situation and meeting Odisha governor Ganeshi Lal and home minister Dibya Shankar Mishra, the Bains brothers, MLAS from Ludhiana, had said, “Mangu Mutt has been demolished and thanks to our efforts, the Odisha government has announced to reconstruct it keeping Sikh sentiments in mind.”

The SGPC held a press conference to clear the air around the mutt and termed the statement made by Bains brothers as misleading and rumorous.

“The Odisha government has already made it clear to the SGPC delegation which paid visit to local administration of Puri on December 16 that the mutt is safe and few buildings in its surrounding have been demolished for beautification project. The heritage buildings remain intact,” said SGPC senior vice-president Rajinder Singh Mehta, who led the delegation.

He said, “During the meeting with local administration, the collector concerned had promised to preserve the mutt and reconstruct its complex. Report of this was handed over to the Akal Takht acting jathedar on December 19”.

The SGPC and Odisha government have inked a pact two months ago to revamp and develop nearby Gurdwara Bauli Mutt Sahib, said SGPC officers. “This pact was also signed by representatives of Odisha Sikh Board. Under the pact, the place associated with Guru Nanak will be revamped on consent of the SGPC. There is no confusion. Bains brothers are making misleading statements on the gurdwara,” said the SGPC officers.

He said Bains brothers had learnt about proceedings of the meeting conducted by Akal Takht jathedar with the SGPC and other Sikh bodies on December 19, and in order to gain political mileage have come up with such statements. Their statements which made it to the headlines have only created confusion in the community”.

THE LUDHIANA MLAS RECENTLY CLAIMED THAT THE MUTT WAS DEMOLISHED AND WAS BEING RECONSTRUCTED BY ODISHA GOVT DUE TO THEIR EFFORTS