Amritsar: The executive committee (EC) of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in its meeting held here today has taken strict notice of the Governments’ interference in Sikh religious affairs and their organisations.
The EC meeting presided over by SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami passed the resolution against the appointment of a non-Sikh as Administrator of the Gurdwara Board of Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib, Nanded, besides strongly opposed the efforts of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) of weakening the Sikh organisations by going beyond its jurisdiction.
Moreover, it has also been decided to provide legal aid to victim families for pursuing case in the higher Court, against 1984 Delhi Sikh Genocide accused Congress leader Jagdish Tytler’s anticipatory bail.
After the EC meeting, addressing the media SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami said that the governments’ unnecessary interference in Sikh affairs is a serious conspiracy, which the Sikh organisation SGPC will not tolerate at any cost. He said that the Sikh Gurdhams (shrines) have their own Maryada (conduct) and tradition, according to which, the Sikh organisations conduct the Sewa (service). He alleged that the Governments are making arbitrary decisions by interfering with the rights of Sikhs.
He said that recently the sentiments of Sikhs have been hurt by appointing a non-Sikh as an Administrator of Gurdwara Board of Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib, Nanded. He said it can never be accepted that the Administrator of a Board of holy Takht Sahib is a non-Sikh. He said that the interference of the government is being made with the intention of weakening the Sikh organisations through government institutions under its authority.
The SGPC President said that the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) is also speaking the language of government instead of representing the minorities. He said in the recent past, NCM chairman Iqbal Singh Lalpura mischievously used some people and tried to achieve the interests of his party (Bharatiya Janata Party).
He said that it is unreasonable for the NCM to ask government agencies to investigate the affairs of Sikh organisations. Harjinder Singh Dhami said that the executive member of the SGPC who handed over a memorandum to Iqbal Singh Lalpura has apologized today in the EC meeting. He said that the concerned EC member has admitted that it was a mistake to seek government intervention in the SGPC affairs.
The SGPC President said that instead of doing politics, Iqbal Singh Lalpura should focus on matters related to minorities. Questioning the silence of NCM Chairman, he said that why Lalpura did not speak on the issues related to minorities from Jammu Kashmir, Manipur, Haryana and now the case of Takht Sri Hazur Sahib. He said that government departments and government representatives should stay away from internal issues of Sikh organisations and recognize their responsibility.
Regarding the other decisions taken by the EC, Harjinder Singh Dhami said that the victim families will be provide legal aid by the SGPC to prosecute Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, the accused of 1984 Sikh Genocide cases, in the higher Court. He said that along with legal aid to challenge the anticipatory bail in the Pulbangash Gurdwara Sahib murder case of three Sikhs, the main witness Bibi Lakhwinder Kaur will also be given necessary financial aid.
He also said that the SGPC’s EC has also approved to provide legal aid in the Supreme Court for the ongoing case against Dera Sirsa head Gurmeet Ram Rahim.
He said that it has also been decided by the EC to mark the upcoming centenaries with grandeur. Accordingly, grand Samagams (events) related to 100-year centenary of Nabha Day on September 9, 2023, the 150-year centenary of Singh Sabha Movement on October 1, 2023 and the 100-year centenary of Jaito Morcha on February 21, 2024 will be organised. Apart from this, various seminars and series of events will also be conducted across the country. He said that special events will be held in the villages of Sikhs who took Jathas (batches) from Sri Akal Takht Sahib during the Jaito Morcha.
The SGPC’s EC also approved Punjabi translation of the English book giving information about the role of Punjabis in Kalapani (Cellular) jail. Along with this, the EC also expressed deep grief over the accidental death of a Sewadar (volunteer) due to electrocution at Gurudwara Shaheed Ganj Baba Deep Singh Ji yesterday.
Present in the EC meeting included SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami, senior vice-president Baldev Singh Qaimpur, junior vice-president Avtar Singh Raya, general secretary Bhai Gurcharan Singh Grewal, EC members Jarnail Singh Kartarpur, Surjit Singh Tughalwal, Bawa Singh Gumanpura, Gurnam Singh Jassal, Paramjit Singh Khalsa, Sher Singh Mandwala, Baba Gurpreet Singh Randhawa, Bhupinder Singh Assandh and Malkit Singh Changal, SGPC secretary Partap Singh, OSD Satbir Singh Dhami, additional secretaries Sukhminder Singh, Kulwinder Singh Ramdas, Gurinder Singh Mathrewal, Simarjit Singh, assistant secretaries Gurdial Singh, Gurcharan Singh Kuhala, Shahbaz Singh, Paramjit Singh, Jaswinder Singh Jassi, superintendent Malkeet Singh Beharwal and others.