Will Amend Sikh Gurdwara Act For Free Gurbani Telecast: Punjab Govt Faces Ire Of SGPC, Oppn Over Bid

A fresh row has erupted after Punjab government said that it will amend the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925 to ensure free telecast rights of Gurbani from the Golden Temple.

File Photos of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the Golden Temple.

Source : Twitter/@BhagwantMann | PTI

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government on Sunday said that it will amend the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925 to ensure free telecast rights of Gurbani from the Golden Temple. A fresh row has erupted over the announcement as the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the apex religious body for Sikhs, reacted sharply to the move, asking the government not to interfere in religious matters.

In an official statement, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the agenda for the resolution will be cleared at a Cabinet meeting slated for Monday. He further mentioned that the resolution will be tabled in the Assembly during the special session on June 20.

"In a historic decision aimed at ensuring the free-to-air telecast of sacred Gurbani from Sri Harmandar Sahib, Amritsar, the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will amend the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925," the statement said.

According to the Chief Minister, the decision is in consonance with the feelings of the 'Sikh Sangat' across the globe. He described it as the need of the hour to disseminate the 'Sarb Sanji Gurbani' across the globe with the aim of spreading the universal message of ‘welfare of all’.

Currently, the sacred hymn is being telecast by a private TV channel PTC network, owned by the politically powerful Badal family. The rights to broadcast Gurbani from Harmandir Sahib has been granted by the Sikhs' apex body, the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandhak Committee (SGPC).

CM Mann said Gurbani should be telecast free of cost rather than confining it to a single channel. According to him, the move will go a long way in offering an opportunity to the 'Sangat' to listen to Gurbani while sitting at home, even in foreign countries.

He said that people will be able to get a glimpse of the Sri Harmandar Sahib on their TVs and other electronic gadgets.

Don't Confuse Nation For Your Political Interests: Sikh Apex Body To Punjab Govt

Slamming the decision, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Harjinder Singh Dhami said that the Punjab government should not interfere in the religious matters of Sikhs and that it has no right to amend the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925.

"Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann ji, 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, you do not know the process for it. This task can be done by the Government of India only in the Parliament with the recommendations of the Shiromani Committee, an organisation elected by the Sikh community," the SGPC chief said.

ਜਿਸ ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰਕਿਰਿਆ ਬਾਰੇ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਨਹੀਂ। ਇਹ ਕਾਰਜ ਸਿੱਖ ਸੰਗਤ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਚੁਣੀ ਸੰਸਥਾ ਸ਼੍ਰੋਮਣੀ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਦੀ ਸਿਫਾਰਸ਼ਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਭਾਰਤ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਸੰਸਦ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੀ ਕਰ ਸਕਦੀ ਹੈ। ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਇਸ ਐਕਟ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੋਧ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਕੋਈ ਅਧਿਕਾਰ ਨਹੀਂ। ਆਪਣੇ ਸਿਆਸੀ ਹਿੱਤਾਂ ਲਈ ਕੌਮ ਨੂੰ ਦੁਵਿਧਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਾਉਣ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਜ ਆਓ। +

— Harjinder Singh Dhami (@SGPCPresident) June 18, 2023

"The Punjab Government has no right to amend this Act. Do not confuse the nation for your political interests," he remarked, further adding that Gurbani's broadcast is not an ordinary matter and its "sanctity and dignity cannot be neglected".

It is not the first time that the Punjab Chief Minister has referred to the issue of the telecast of Gurbani. Last year too, he had urged the SGPC to allow the telecast of the Golden Temple Gurbani on other channels.

Making Gurbani telecast free is expected to break the Badal-owned network's monopoly to create a level playing ground for all television channels.

In terms of political impact, the Panthic aura of the opposition Shiromani Akali Dal, dominated by the Badals, could be diluted.

Opposition Questions 'Legality' Of Punjab Govt's Announcement

Akali Dal leader Daljeet Singh Cheema termed the move "unconstitutional" and a "direct interference in the religious activities of the Sikh community".

"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 through 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 work being done under the orders of (Arvind) Kejriwal," he wrote in a Punjabi 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

Questioning the "legality" of the announcement, Congress party's Sukhpal Singh Khaira raised similar concerns asking how the Punjab government can look to change to a central act.

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… pic.twitter.com/RzcJEQUThe

— Sukhpal Singh Khaira (@SukhpalKhaira) June 18, 2023

However, former Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu supported the decision writing: "Sarb Sanjhi Gurbaani" …….. means for one and all with no discrimination ………… this was a cherished desires of millions of sikhs across the globe including me……… commendable effort @BhagwantMann ……… Kudos !!"

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