Benti to Sangat... Please do Ardaas for us...

ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂਜੀਕਾਖਾਲਸਾਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂਜੀਕੀਫਤਹਿ

The Austin Gurdwara Sahib, the only Gurdwara in Austin, TX, had to first fight a frivolous lawsuit in order to build our first gurdwara sahib building. the lawsuit was brought about by a woman who had purchased land nearby (after we had received permission from the city to commence construction). the woman had built a house valued at $800,000 in an area where the average home value was $100,000. when she could not sell that home (built purely for profit after sale), she blamed the construction of the new Gurudwara Sahib building for her failure to sell (this is during a recession). during the suit the woman had claimed that Sikhs were driving around her home in cars without license plates, "terrorizing" the neighborhood. she had handed out letters to the neighbors telling libelous horror stories of what our Gurdwara would bring to the neighborhood.
happily, the court found the Gurdwara as the winner and we were allowed to finish construction.

now, just a few months after the inauguration of the gurdwara on vaisakhi 2010, this evil woman has gotten an injunction against the Gurdwara from the court of appeals. this injunction demands that the Gurdwara be torn to the ground.

the Sikh community in Austin is small and fragile. there are few gursikhs in the sangat, and it was only through our Gurdwara that sangat was beginning to grow and children becoming interested in Sikhi. when our Gurdwara is destroyed, the sangat will go back to being isolated in the community.

i humbly ask the sangat of Gurmat Bibek to please rememrber Austin Gurdwara Sahib in your ardaas... that we may fight a strong legal battle and win the right to keep our Gurdwara standing.

you can read the case decision here: [www.morelaw.com]

ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂਜੀਕਾਖਾਲਸਾਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂਜੀਕੀਫਤਹਿ

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

Vaheguru. Akaal Purakh is watching - to block ANY religious institution from development for ulterior/mischevious motives will surely fail.

Question: Has this been mobilized as a political/community movement? Courts, despite their outward appearance of adhering objectively to the law itself, are very influenced by politics and the community voice. Are their politicians in the area friendly to cause and are there community organizations that can provide support to your cause? This will often lend a strong hand in influencing court decisions - the judges know who pay their salaries and keep them in that courtroom.

Bhenji, Thats a sad news. Guru Sahib will do Kirpa !!

Bhul Chuk Maaf !!

MS514 jee, we are a very small community without political power or influence. the gudwara itself is in a tiny, wealthy, white, and christian dominated suburb. it may be difficult to rally support for our cause. but i will look into it for sure. thanks for the advice.

May Guru Sahib do Kirpa and bless Khalsa with Fateh because both fateh and Khalsa belong to Vaheguru jee!

Fateh Ji

Could the sangat collectively buy the house??
Very sad to hear about this situation...

we had discussed buying the house when the issue first arose. unfortunately, now that the court has made it's decision, there's not much we can do except take it to a higher court and hope they rule in our favor.

Guru fateh

bhenji ,we the singhs ,here in callifornia, are always with you. It's an golden oppourtunity to increase SIMRAN at this time , as our GURU is sarab Kala
samrath

NANAK THAKUR MEET HAMARE ,HUM NAHIN LOKANE

sangat also can contribute as much PAATH as they can for this matter

thank you for the paath, simran, and ardaas. with guru sahib's kirpa i am confident the gurdwara sahib will win our next court battle.

we have set up a website where donations can be made to support our appeal:

[www.savegurudwara.com]

please pass the information and website on to your local sangat if possible.

thanks!

daas has put this up on facebook and other media places, and asked others to spread the word



perhaps it would be a good idea to print some papers out if there is a need.
daas doesnt mind printing some up and putting them up in surrey.lowermainland area.

oddslot

thanks veerjee... PM me your email address and i will email you the flier. a petition should be available soon as well.

[www.statesman.com]

A good discussion with the news. Public is hopeful of a reversal in the upper court.