Amidst the controversy around gurbani telecasting rights, Punjab Government will amend the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925 — erupting a controversy with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) condemning the move by terming it as “interference with Sikhs’ religious affairs”.
Announcing the decision to introduce amendments in the Gurdwara Act through a tweet, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday said that the agenda for this resolution will be cleared by the Cabinet in its meeting slated to be held on Monday (June 19), while the resolution will be tabled in Punjab Vidhan Sabha during its special session schedule to be held on June 20.
“In a historic decision aimed at ensuring the free to air telecast of sacred Gurbani from Sri Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar, the Punjab government will amend Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925…The agenda for this resolution will be cleared by the Cabinet in its meeting tomorrow (June 19 -Monday), and resolution will be tabled in Vidhan Sabha on June 20. This decision is in consonance with the feelings of Sikh sangat across the globe,” said the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister described it as need of the hour to disseminate the ‘Sarb Sanjhi Gurbani’ across the globe with an aim to spread the universal message of ‘Sarbat da Bhala’ (welfare of all).
Mann advocated that gurbani should be telecasted “free of cost” rather than confining it to a single channel. “The Punjab Government’s move will go a long way in offering an opportunity to the sangat to listen to the blissful gurbani while sitting at their homes even abroad,” he added.
Likewise, the Chief Minister said that it will also allow the people to have a glimpse (darshan didar) of Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib on their TV sets or other electronic gadgets.
Mann said that it will go a long way to further propagate the message of gurbani in every nook and corner of the world.
He batted that instead of limiting the reach of gurbani to a single medium, this message of universal brotherhood and well-being must be telecasted free of cost to the masses.
Don’t Try to Interfere with Sikhs’ Religious Affairs: SGPC President to CM Mann
SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, reacting on the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's announcement on amending Sikh Gurdwara Act-1925, asked the AAP leader not to interfere with the religious affairs of the Sikhs.
“Chief Minister @BhagwantMann Sir, do not try to interfere with the religious affairs of the Sikhs. Sikh affairs are related to the sentiments and concerns of the Sangat, in which governments have no right to interfere directly. You are talking about adding a new section by amending the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925 regarding which you are unaware. This task can be done by the Government of India only in the Parliament with the recommendations of the Shiromani Committee — an organization elected by the Sikh community,” said SGPC president Dhami in a series of tweets.
He added, “Punjab Government has no right to amend this Act. Do not confuse the nation for your political interests. Telecast of gurbani is not ordinary, its sanctity and dignity cannot be ignored.”
Direct Attack on Khalsa Panth, Sikh Shrines: SAD
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday described the State Government’s decision regarding amendment in Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, as “direct attack on the Khalsa Panth and Sikh shrines”.
“Kejriwal’s AAP Government Chief Minister's announcement regarding the gurbani is a direct government attack on the Khalsa Panth and Sikh shrines. This abominable decision is the first dangerous and daring step towards government taking over the custody of gurdhams by taking away the right to preach gurbani from the Sikh community. This decision has brought to mind the repression of the Mughals, the British and Indira Gandhi on Sri Harmandir Sahib, but the Khalsa Panth will respond with a vengeance,” he said.