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AASHA KHOSA
NEW DELHI, APRIL 30: The former Inter Service Intelligence chief who heads the newly constituted Pakistan Gurdwara Prabandak Committee (PGPC), has spelt his diabolic plans; instead of repairing the badly damaged gurdwaras he wishes to use his term for resurrecting insurgency in Punjab.
Lt Gen (Retd.) Javed Nasir, chief of the PGPC, spelt his agenda in an interview to Urdu daily Jung recently. ``Creation of the PGPC would give a fillip to the separatist movement in Punjab which eventually would lead to dismemberment of India'' he said. Ironically, Nasir's nomination along with four other Muslim members to the recently set up PGPC came on February 20 - the day Indian and Pakistani premiers were indulging in bus diplomacy and making efforts to break the cold war between the neighbours.
The creation of PGPC by the Pakistan government was projected as a gesture of friendship with Sikhs who are celebrating 300 years of their faith. Pakistan government had come under fire from Sikhs all over the world whowere concerned about the utter state of neglect of about 120 historic gurdwaras. Besides, the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandak Committee (SGPC) too had staked claim for control and management of these shrines, some of which are said to be on the brink of extinction.
A group of Sikh leaders who met the Pakistan high commissioner here today, conveyed the community's concerns over creation of the PGPC. They submitted a memorandum to the high commissioner which said the very appointment of a man ``obsessed with militaristic priorities'' betrays the intentions behind creation of the religious body.
The Sikhs have alleged the PGPC creation was a facade while the real intention of Pakistani government was ``Islamisation of all segments of Pakistani society''.
The memorandum alleged many of the gurdwaras linked to founders of the Sikh faith had been literally wiped off due to total neglect during 50 years. Besides, some of the places were being used by residents as cattle pens even though the Wakf board of Pakistanwas in charge of the shrines.
The Indian Intelligence agencies also view Gen Nasir's appointment with suspicion and say ``he was speaking his real mind in the Jung interview''.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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