Amritsar, July 27:
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami has expressed deep sorrow over the fire that damaged the building of Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar in Virginia, Australia. He also urged gurdwara management committees to remain more vigilant regarding safety and maintenance arrangements.
Advocate Dhami said that, in Sikhism, a gurdwara is not only a place of worship but also a center for selfless service (seva), remembrance of God (simran), congregation (sangat), and the welfare of all (sarbat da bhala). He noted that wherever Sikhs have settled around the world, they have established gurdwaras, which serve as important religious, cultural, and social institutions for the Sikh community.
He said the unfortunate incident in Australia has deeply saddened Sikhs across the world. He called on the authorities and the gurdwara management to conduct a thorough investigation into the actual cause of the fire and bring the facts to light, so that the concerns of the Sikh community can be addressed and appropriate measures can be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The SGPC President also appealed to gurdwara management committees in India and abroad to ensure round-the-clock security at gurdwaras and to carry out regular inspections of electrical systems and equipment to help prevent such incidents.
Issued by:
Jagtar Singh Khodebet
Publicity Assistant, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC)