Keeping SGPC elections in mind, Punjab govt to amend Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925 in upcoming PVS session
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ June 18,2023
In a historic decision aimed at ensuring the free to air telecast of sacred Gurbani from Sri Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar, the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will amend Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925.
Divulging the details, the Chief Minister said that the agenda for this resolution will be cleared by the Cabinet in its meeting slated to be held here on June 19 (Monday). He said that later on the resolution will be tabled in Punjab Vidhan Sabha during its special session schedule to be held on June 20. Bhagwant Mann said that this decision is in consonance with the feelings of Sikh sangat across the globe.
The Chief Minister described it as need of the hour to disseminate the ‘Sarb Sanji Gurbani’ across the globe with an aim to spread the universal message of ‘Sarbat da Bhala’ (welfare of all). Bhagwant Mann advocated that Gurbani should be telecasted free of cost rather than confining it to a single channel. He said that the move of the Punjab government 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.
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. Bhagwant 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.
Reacting to this, Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, shiromani akali dal spokesperson said “Hon’ble Chief Minister, this act of yours is unconstitutional and a 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. 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 anti-cult work being done under the orders of Kejriwal.”
Sukhpal Singh Khaira, congress leader said” As far as my knowledge goes Punjab government cannot tinker or amend or add to the existing Sikh Gurudwara Act 1925 as its a central act! I wonder how @BhagwantMann is speaking to add a clause in the said Act! Yes the Vidhan Sabha can pass a resolution and send it to Center for addition of their demand. The purpose of my tweet is on the question whether state govt is entitled to do so and on the legality of the announcement made by Cm only-Khaira”
BJP leader Sunil Jakhar also condemned CM Mann’s statement. He said
With this amendment, the monopoly of private channel PTC is going to end. PTC is holding the ‘sole exclusive worldwide broadcasting’ rights of Gurbani from the Golden Temple. The SGPC has given exclusive rights of Gurbani telecast to G-Next Media Private Limited, the company that owns PTC channels, under an agreement signed on July 24, 2012. The agreement was “irrevocable” for its entire duration of 11 years.
Even, recently the SGPC is contemplating adopting a liberal policy in future.
Keeping SGPC elections in mind, Punjab govt to amend Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925 in upcoming PVS session. On May 27,2023 Gurdwara Election Commission wrote to the Punjab Government asking them to prepare a list of voters for the Shri Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) elections. Notable, the last SGPC elections took place in 2011. For twelve years, the elections could not take place due to the legal battle over the voting rights of Sehajdhari Sikhs.
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
Dr Daljit Singh Cheema Tweet
ਮਾਨਯੋਗ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਜੀ, ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਇਹ ਕੰਮ ਗੈਰ ਸੰਵਿਧਾਨਕ ਅਤੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਕੌਮ ਦੇ ਧਾਰਮਿਕ ਕੰਮਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਿੱਧੀ ਦਖਲ ਅੰਦਾਜੀ ਹੈ। ਸਿੱਖ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਐਕਟ ਪਾਰਲੀਮੈਟ ਦੇ ਅਧੀਨ ਹੈ। ਸਿੱਖ ਕੌਮ ਨੇ ਪਾਰਲੀਮੈਂਟ ਦੇ ਇਸ ਐਕਟ ਅਧੀਨ ਗੁਰੂ ਘਰਾਂ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਫੈਸਲੇ ਲੈਣ ਲਈ ਵੋਟਾਂ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਚੁਣ ਕੇ ਸ਼੍ਰੋਮਣੀ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧਕ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਦੀ ਚੋਣ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ।… https://t.co/dR9h0AlXGn
— Dr Daljit S Cheema (@drcheemasad) June 18, 2023
