Shillong, Aug 26: The Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) on Monday appealed to the state government for extension of the time to response to the blueprint for relocation of 342 families from Them Iew Mawlong (Sweeper’s Lane).
This came after the 15 days of time granted by the state government to the HPC for communicating its final decision on the proposal expired on Monday.
In a statement, HPC Secretary Gurjit Singh said that following a recent meeting where the Deputy Chief Minister suggested that the Committee convey its final decision within two weeks, the Harijan Panchayat Committee has emphasized that the short period is insufficient for them to consult with the highest authorities of the Sikh community.
“We intend to seek the counsel of the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee in Amritsar, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, and other senior community organizations and leaders. Their guidance is crucial,” Singh said.
“Given the current engagements and prior commitments of the Sikh religious leadership, they have indicated that they will not be available for consultations for the next two to three weeks.”
The letter suggested that in light of these circumstances, the Harijan Panchayat Committee requests that the next meeting on this issue be scheduled around the last week of September. The Committee is hopeful that by that time, they will be able to present a well-considered response that reflects the consensus of the broader community.