Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday (July 15) launched a scathing attack on Governor Banwarilal Purohit, accusing him of obstructing the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and disregarding the democratic will of the people. The bill, which was passed by the Punjab Assembly on June 20, aims to ensure free telecasts of 'Gurbani' from Amritsar's iconic Golden Temple.
The recent development follows the announcement by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee that they will launch their own satellite channel and YouTube channel to broadcast Gurbani from the Golden Temple.
Chief Minister Mann expressed his concern on Twitter, vowing not to let the telecast of Gurbani fall into the hands of the Badal family's company again. He also wrote to Governor Purohit, expressing his disappointment at the delay in signing the bill, which he saw as a suppression of the democratic voice of the people of Punjab.
Mann emphasised the Badal family's connection to the PTC Channel, alleging that the channel, owned by the political family, monopolised the telecast of 'Sarab Sanjhi Gurbani' from Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) and profited financially from it. Mann urged Governor Purohit to sign the bill before the agreement between the SGPC and the private channel expires on July 23, stating that failure to do so would deprive millions of devotees around the world of live telecasts of Holy Gurbani, severely affecting their religious sentiments.
The Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023 is significant for the Sikh community because it seeks to ensure wider access to the sacred Gurbani recitals from the Golden Temple, fostering inclusivity and allowing devotees worldwide to connect with their spiritual heritage. The fate of the bill and the uninterrupted telecast of Gurbani hangs in the balance as the dispute between the Chief Minister and the Governor continues, awaiting a resolution that aligns with the aspirations of the people of Punjab.