Chandigarh:The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) strongly condemns the renaming and conversion of the historic Gurdwara Sahib Guru Gobind Singh Ghat in Pushkar, Rajasthan, into what is now being called Mata Gau Ghat, and its repurposing as a Hindu temple.
In a statement issued today, Satnam Singh Chahal, Executive Director of NAPA, expressed deep concern over the continuous erosion of Sikh religious heritage in India. “This latest move to erase the identity of a sacred Sikh site associated with Guru Gobind Singh Ji is not only an act of religious insensitivity but a direct assault on the historical legacy of Sikhism,” Chahal said.
Guru Gobind Singh Ghat is a historically recognised site where the Tenth Sikh Guru is believed to have visited. Its quiet transformation into a non-Sikh religious site without any dialogue with the Sikh community is a grave injustice and a clear violation of India’s constitutional commitment to religious freedom and protection of minority rights.
“This is not an isolated incident,” Chahal continued. “Other sacred Sikh places, including Gyan Godri Sahib at Har ki Pauri in Haridwar and Mangu Math in Odisha, have also faced similar fates. The Sikh community worldwide is deeply hurt and disillusioned by these ongoing efforts to erase our heritage from the Indian landscape.”
NAPA urges the Government of India, especially the Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, to immediately:
-
Restore the original name and identity of Guru Gobind Singh Ghat;
-
Protect Sikh historical and religious sites from encroachment, distortion, or forced conversion;
-
Initiate a high-level inquiry into this and similar incidents and hold those responsible accountable;
-
Ensure meaningful consultation with Sikh leadership on matters affecting community heritage.
NAPA stands in solidarity with the global Sikh community in demanding justice, historical preservation, and respect for religious identity. “These acts do not just violate Sikh sentiments—they erode the very fabric of India’s pluralistic society,” Chahal emphasized.