Sikh Diaspora's First-ever "Gurdwara Nankana Sahib" Conference in New York
Resolution presented to Pak PM Nawaz Sharif's advisor for tourism Mr. Shaheen Butt.
While Pakistan's leading newspapers report the event, "FREE" Indian media ignores the news.
Washington, D.C., Wednesday, August 18, 1999 - The magnificent New York August 14, 99 INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR organized by the Committee for Vatican – like Status for Gurdwara Nankana Sahib (and hosted by New York’s Gurdwara Baba Makhan Shah Lubana Sikh Center) is a very good example of the unity and excellence that can be attained by the Sikh community in any endeavor that is dear to it, as is the Gurdwara Nankana Sahib. The organizers and the hosts deserve every Sikh’s salute for a job well done. BRAVO!The historic New York gathering – which was open-and not restricted – met all day Saturday (August 14, 99) in the ballroom of New York’s JFK Airport Ramada Plaza Hotel and was attended and addressed by scores of Sikh Diaspora community and religious leaders, of all shades of opinion, (from Canada, the United States, Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia) who frankly discussed issues surrounding establishing a Vatican – like "international status" for Gurdwara Nankana Sahib (located about 48 miles West of the Pakistani Punjab’s metropolis of Lahore) which will make it a major tourist/pilgrimage center in the years to come which would bring great prosperity to its Pakistani hinterland.
A resolution (which is reproduced verbatim below) was unanimously adopted by the Sikh Diaspora New York meeting on August 14, 99 and was presented for onward transmission in a colorful ceremony, (held the next day on the premises of Richmond Hill’s Gurdwara Baba Makhan Shah Lubana Sikh Center) to Mr. Shaheen Butt, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Advisor for Tourism and Overseas Pakistanis who was honored with a traditional Saropa as well.
It is strange indeed that while Pakistan’s leading English newspaper – DAWN – has carried the Gurdwara Nankana Sahib story by its US correspondent (carried elsewhere in this issue) the ‘journalists’ representing the so-called "FREE" Indian media in the United States have chosen (or were they ordered by the ‘fascists’ in Delhi?) to ignore a harmless human interest story which effects the religious feelings of the 18 million strong Sikh minority living in India as "Indians" since the British left in 1947. How dishonest? MAYBE INDIA’S BRAHMIN MINORITY RULERS ARE AFRAID THAT THEIR ‘DIVIDE AND RULE’ POLICIES WILL BE EXPOSED IF THE PUNJABI-SPEAKING SIKHS GET TOO FRIENDLY WITH THE FRIENDLY PUNJABI-SPEAKING PAKISTANIS!
COMMITTEE FOR VATICAN – LIKE STATUS FOR GURDWARA NANKANA SAHIB
958 National Press Building, Washington DC 20045 USA
Tel. 202-637-9212 Fax. 703-567-7134
Postal Address: P. O. Box 14292, Washington DC 20044 USAThe following resolution Proposed by Harbans Singh Bharaj of New York and Seconded by Karnail Singh of Ottawa was unanimously approved and passed on August 14, 99 at a representative International meeting of the 3 million strong Sikh Diaspora held in New York, New York USA, at the JFK Airport Ramada Plaza Hotel: -
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the World’s 21 million Sikhs are linked by their monotheistic faith and respect for their shrines;
WHEREAS, the Shrine of Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, located in the city of Nankana Sahib, Punjab, Pakistan, commemorates the birth in 1469 of the founder of the Sikh religion, Guru Baba Nanak Sahib,
WHEREAS, each devout Sikh, whether in India or in the Diaspora, prays daily for the ability to openly and freely visit, view, serve and maintain the Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, one of the Sikh religion’s holiest shrines.
WHEREAS, access to and Vatican – like administration of the Gurdwara Nankana Sahib would lead to Gurdwara Nankana Sahib becoming a major tourist destination for Sikhs and to significant infrastructure investment on the part of the Sikh community in and around Nankana Sahib;
WHEREAS, the undersigned representatives of the world wide Sikh community believe that Pakistan recognizes the substantial international good will which would be engendered by allowing the international Sikh community access to and administration of its central religious shrine of Gurdwara Nankana Sahib;
WHEREAS, the undersigned representatives of the world – wide Sikh community respect and are mindful of Pakistan’s security and similar concerns and are willing to give appropriate assurances of mutual respect and friendship to Pakistan and its people; and
WHEREAS, the representative of the world – wide Sikh community present here believe that the status of the Vatican within Italy and those aspects of the Italy/Vatican Lateran Treaty of 1929 which recognized the separate status of the Vatican, may and should be used as a model for a negotiated status of the Gurdwara Nankana Sahib within Pakistan.
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED:
That the Committee for Vatican – like status for Gurdwara Nankana Sahib (the "Committee") shall call upon Pakistan, its Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and other members of the Government of Pakistan, to recognize the legitimate aspirations of the International Sikh community for access to and administration of Gurdwara Nankana Sahib and its immediate precincts, and shall enter into constructive and mutually beneficial negotiations with Pakistan for permanent Vatican – like status for Gurdwara Nankana Sahib.
Dated New York, New York USA
August 14, 99.