Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 19

Experts have expressed concern over the handling of a heritage structure discovered during a digging operation by the SGPC on the Golden Temple complex.

In a statement, Davinder Pal Singh of Panjab Digital Library and Prof Harpal Singh said the location and the nature of the excavated site suggested there was every likelihood it was part of the historic Sarkar-e-Khalsa Ranjit Singh’s ‘bunga’, which was demolished by the British to construct a grand clock tower after the Punjab was annexed in 1849.

“Nearly 250 years ago, a variety of buildings were constructed in the periphery of the shrine. These buildings were called ‘bungas’. They were, of course, subsequently demolished during the widening of the ‘parkarma’ around 1944,” said the statement.

The scholars said the clock tower had been standing there for more than half a century when that too was demolished after the SGPC gained management rights of the historical gurdwaras following the enactment of Gurdwara Act in 1925. Available historical evidence suggests that during the demolition of the clock tower, stairs and a passageway were found, which were used by the Maharaja to visit Sri Harmandir Sahib. The SGPC demolished these stairs despite resistance from prominent Sikhs, said the statement.

“The place is a heritage site of immense significance and must not be harmed any further. Any digging around this place should stop forthwith till the extensive archaeological investigation is conducted to establish its historical identity. The Directorate of Cultural Affairs Archaeology and Archives of the Punjab Government should intervene,” the statement said.