Sikh community holds protest march against 'land grabbing' bid

Members of Sikh Samaj of the city today took out a protest march against an alleged attempt to occupy a plot of land which they claimed was alloted to them by a former municipal commissioner to develop a park in the memory of their leader.
Secretary of Gurudwara Guru Singh Sabha, Sardar Inderjeet Singh Titoo said that the protest march was organised by 'Samooh Saadh Sangat and Gurudwara committee' which started from Ambedkar Park and proceeded towards Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam (GNN) office.
Presidents and priests of 21 Gurudwara committees, scores of men and women from the Sikh community participated in the march. Protesters shouted slogans and assembled at the GNN office.

A memorandum addressed in the name of the chief minister was also handed over to the municipal commissioner and later on to the city magistrate at the collectorate, Titoo said.
Addressing the protesters, General Secretary of Guru Singh Sabha S P Singh Oberoi said that the 4,000 meters of land was allotted to the sikh community allegedly by the civic body on March 23, 2005 to develop a park in the memory of their guru Dashmesh.
"In connivance with some corrupt GNN officials, one councillor is allegedly trying to occupy a portion of the government land which is lying vacant behind the 'Dashmesh Vatika' boundary walls for a plot," he said.

In his effort to get passage to the government land, the councillor allegedly bulldozed the backside boundary wall a week back and is trying to construct a road, Singh further charged.

Upon receiving a complaint from the Sikh community, the District Magistrate has passed an order restraining construction of road on 'Dashmesh Vatika' land.
The municipal commissioner has assured the sikh leaders of all help to develop the vatika.
City magistrate has also assured the delegation to forward their memorandum to the Chief Minster at the earliest, Oberoi added.