Muslims Donate 330 Quintals of Wheat
The significant, much-needed contribution was made to help authorities who were facing a shortage of rations to run the kitchen which is expected to receive more such consignments in the coming days
NEW DELHI – The managers of the community kitchen of Golden Temple in Amritsar heaved a sigh of relief when they received 330 quintals of wheat on Friday from Muslims of Malerkotla town in Punjab, 180 km away, as a gesture of communal harmony.
The much-needed contribution was made to help authorities who have been facing a shortage of ration to run the kitchen which is expected to receive more such consignments in the coming days.
The food grains were collected with all-out efforts by the Sikh-Muslim Sanjha Manch whose delegation was led by its president, Nasir Akhtar. The members of the delegation partook langar at the community kitchen and also met Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh.
Manch members, who carried out the door-to-door grain collection campaign in Malerkotla for 22 days, received an overwhelming response with Muslim families not only contributing wheat for the noble cause but also making generous donations.
The amount of Rs. 1,50,000 collected thus was spent to purchase more food grains. Dubai-based businessman and philanthropist Surinder Pal Singh Oberoi, along with Takht Patna Sahib Jathedar Ranjit Singh, flagged off the wheat-laden Amritsar-bound trucks.
“We are planning to send more wheat in the coming days with the help of area residents,” said Mohd Parvez, another member of the Manch.
Golden Temple Chief Manager Mukhtiar Singh and additional Manager Rajinder Singh Ruby honoured the delegates with siropas (a piece of cloth garlanded around the neck). “There is a dire need of enhancing the cooperation between both the communities”, said Akhtar, one of the members of the delegation.
The delegation was all praise for the services being rendered at the community kitchen for needy people. “Irrespective of their faith, colour, caste and creed, the people are distributed free food here. This is the greatness of Guru Darbar.”, said Akhtar, quoted by Hindustan Times.
“Given that lakhs of devotees visit the gurdwara every day, our contribution is very small. We want to contribute as much as we can to help the authorities in running the community kitchen. After we came to know that the authorities are facing trouble due to lack of ration supply, we decided to help,” said Dr Naseer Akhtar, a report in The Tribune said.
President of Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee Gobind Singh Longowal thanked the delegates, saying, “The Muslim community of Malerkotla has set an example to promote communal harmony”.