Nagara Foundation halts gurdwara renovation work in Pakistan
Darpan News Desk IANS, 20 Jan, 2022 12:05 PM
New Delhi, Jan 20 (IANS) US-based Ranjit Nagara Foundation, which was overseeing the 'karsewa' (renovation/construction) of Gurdwara Chowa Sahib in Jhelum, Pakistan and other local gurdwaras, has notified that they has stopped the construction activities due to non-compliance of ETPB/PSGPC in providing them bills and expenditure details of the works carried out till date.
Satpreet Singh, Director of Ranjit Nagara Foundation, revealed that as per US rules, their foundation has to provide documentation of their expenditure to Internal Revenue Service, Department of Justice, annually which is further updated on the department's site for public or on before May 15, but the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) office has not provided the requisite documents till date. Thus, the NGO has to put its activities on hold.
Misappropriation of gurdwara funds by ETPB/PSGPC (Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee) officials had been reported in the past as well.
The Nagara Foundation is largely funded by the Sikh diaspora with resources being further transferred to Pakistan
At least 100 Indian students and eight student recruiters of Indian origin have been arrested and several others face arrest warrants after raids conducted by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Eight high school students will receive fully-funded scholarships from Indiaspora to participate in the programme with the theme “India’s Riches: History, Culture, Diversity, & Democracy”.
For the first time in Pakistan’s history, a Sikh lawmaker has been appointed as a parliamentary secretary. Department of Sardar Mahinder Pal Singh, a member of Punjab Assembly, is likely to be announced in the next couple of days.
