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Declare Sultan Pur Lodhi Qila Sarai National Monument: Residents

ASHOK KAURA | September 13, 2020 06:21 PM

PHILLAUR: Residents of Phillaur, Nakodar, Shahkot, and Sultan Pur Lodhi subdivisions have demanded that the historic Qila Sarai in Sultan Pur Lodhi should be declared as a National Monument and be handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India for proper maintenance.

Dilbag Singh a resident of Baina Pur village and journalist in communication to Sanjay Singh addition chief secretary tourism and cultural affairs Punjab Government said that the dilapidated condition of the historic Qila Sarai in Sultanpur Lodhi, relating to the life of Guru Nanak Dev ji has forced him to bring this an important issue in his notice.  

Communication said that the fort currently houses the Sultanpur Lodhi police station and DSP’s office and is being used to dump case property.

Qila Sarai is one of the historic links in the 3-km heritage walk through Gurdwara Guru Ka Bagh, Gurdwara Kothari Sahib, Old House of Bebe Nanaki and Gurdwara Hatt Sahib.

Dilbag Singh said that the tourism and cultural department has miserably failed in preserving the iconic Sarai as a heritage building. As per documented history, the monument dates back to the 800-year-old Lodhi dynasty and its two gates, Lahori Gate and Delhi Gate (which lies permanently closed on the backside), was a part of the erstwhile GT Road.

Lahori Gate had collapsed in 2014.

Qila Sarai was rebuilt by Emperor Shah Jahan in the 16th century, and Dara Shikoh and Aurangzeb studied Islam here.

The communication said that all the building /land of the monuments and structure attached thereby vest with the Central Government in view of the express provision of the constitution of India under Article 294 and 295.

The central govt.vide letter dated 6/1/1959 issued the instructions to all the state government to transfer the ownership of the state-owned monuments and property and assets attached thereto in the name of Central Government.

Dilbag Singh said that Qila Saria is a monument of the national importance and it should have been declared a monument of national importance under the Ancient Monuments Act but was not transferred and still is a state-owned monument.       Now the time has come to remove this anomaly and he demands that this heritage building should be declared as a National Monument and should be handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India for proper maintenance. He said that if no action is taken on his representation within three months he will be constrained to file a petition in the Punjab and HaryNa High Court.

 
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