“If I were to remain silent, I'd be guilty of complicity.” ― Albert Einstein
Dear Supporter,
Today the World Sikh Organization (WSO), Canada spoke strongly, asking the Pakistan Government not to construct on the sacred fields of Baba Nanak. WSO is the largest Sikh advocacy organization in Canada that has been the voice of the Canadian Sikhs and has represented their interests on the world stage for 35 years.
WSO Canada joins the following individuals and organizations along with the 17,500 supporters of this petition in our ask of preserving Baba Nanak's fields and establishing Kartarpur as Baba Nanak envisioned and established it:
- The American Sikh Council (ASC), USA
- The Supreme Sikh Council, Australia
- Navjot Singh Sidhu (Punjab Minister) - India
- The Global Sikh Council - representing U.K & Sikh councils of 30 other countries
- Federation of Sikh Societies of Canada
- PTI MPA Momina Waheed Pakistan
Pictures from the ground tell us that despite thousands of Sikhs asking the Pakistan Government to plan the new construction outside of the sacred fields of Baba Nanak, no attention is being paid to the larger Sikh sentiment. We are surprised at the short-sightedness and careless planning of the government, as well as their disregard to the heritage of the oldest school of Sikhism despite our advocacy for five months now.
Baba Nanak's fields, where he tilled the land with his own two hands, where he taught and disseminated Sikh principles to the world, are being buried under marble and stone, and modern commercial development in the name of expansive religious tourism.
What stood preserved for 500 years is now being destroyed. Once the fields are taken over by indiscriminate construction, we lose all chances of preserving Kartarpur as Baba Nanak established and envisioned it; all chances of archeologically reviving lost heritage sites. Kartarpur will become just another large marble and stone Gurdwara with a big sarovar and modern aesthetics that our new generation will have no interest in visiting.
It is time that every one who believes in preserving Baba Nanak's fields and his vision at Kartarpur must speak up. Your silence in the destruction of this unparalleled heritage is your complicity in allowing it to happen.
We thank the WSO for supporting us and hope that every Sikh organization will take a stance on which side of the history they choose to be on.
WSO Press Release
Thank You,
Gurmeet Kaur
Petition: http://chng.it/x5Jxk2pz
Page: https://www.facebook.com/kartarpursahibcorridor