Harjinder Singh Dhami, president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandhak Committee (SGPC), has denounced Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for saying that they will amend the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925 to allow for the free telecast of “Gurbani” from the Golden Temple. He claims that the AAP government in the state is attempting to politicise the issue and has no right to make such changes.
“Punjab Government can’t interfere in any manner. They don’t have the right…They are trying to politicise this and I strongly condemn this. I urge Bhagwant Mann to not do anything like this,” Dhami. Dhami, who earlier addressed a press conference, said several people have spoken on the issue and “have spoken the truth.This is being done for political reasons, for political capital,” he said.
Dhami stated during his news conference that the Act can only be changed by Parliament, and that the SGPC must pass a resolution outlining the proposed amendment.
To appease their political overlords in Delhi, they are giving a religious issue a political spin. Do not make this SGPC versus government. We ask that the government refrain from interfering so that they are not held accountable for the results.If anyone has ever meddled even slightly, they must have regretted it, he remarked.Dhami stated that the SGPC is capable of making choices and that the Punjab Chief Minister should be worried about the state’s growth.
ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਅਸ਼ੀਰਵਾਦ ਸਦਕਾ ਕੱਲ ਇੱਕ ਇਤਿਹਾਸਿਕ ਫੈਸਲਾ ਕਰਨ ਜਾ ਰਹੇ ਹਾਂ..ਸਮੂਹ ਸੰਗਤਾਂ ਦੀ ਮੰਗ ਮੁਤਾਬਕ ਸਿੱਖ ਗੁਰੁਦਵਾਰਾ ਐਕਟ 1925 ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਨਵੀਂ ਧਾਰਾ ਜੋੜ ਰਹੇ ਹਾਂ ਕਿ ਹਰਿਮੰਦਰ ਸਾਹਬ ਜੀ ਤੋਂ ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਪੑਸਾਰਣ ਸਭ ਲਈ ਮੁਫਤ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ …no tender required..ਕੱਲ ਕੈਬਨਿਟ ਚ ..20 ਜੂਨ ਨੂੰ ਵਿਧਾਨ ਸਭਾ ਚ ਮਤਾ ਆਵੇਗਾ..
— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) June 18, 2023
(TRANSLATED TWEET)
“With God’s blessings, we are going to make a historic decision tomorrow. According to the demand of all the devotees, we are adding a new clause in the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925 that the transmission of Gurbani from Harimandar Sahib will be free for all…no tender required ..tomorrow in the cabinet ..on June 20 the resolution will come in the Vidhan Sabha,” Mann said in a tweet on Sunday.
Leaders from Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress said that the state government is not entitled to make such changes. Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former Punjab Education Minister Daljeet Cheema said the move is unconstitutional.
“Hon’ble Chief Minister, this act of yours is unconstitutional and direct interference in the religious activities of the Sikh community. The Sikh Gurdwara Act is under Parliament. The Sikh community has elected the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee by voting to take decisions regarding Guru Ghar under this Act of Parliament,” Daljeet Cheema tweeted.”Has the above committee passed any such resolution in this regard? Without that, even the Parliament cannot amend this Act. The Sikh community will never tolerate this being done under the orders of Kejriwal,” he added.