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
Nepal’s central bank has banned the use of Indian currency notes of Rs 2,000, Rs 500 and Rs 200 denominations, a move that could affect Indian tourists visiting the Himalayan nation, where Indian currency is widely used.
The group, which had attended the Ujjain Kumbh in 2016, has been taking part in the holy baths at the Kumbh Mela this year along with the other akharas.
