Amritsar, July 5, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)
The Executive Committee (EC) of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) presided over by its President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami today approved the appointment of two Granthi Singhs for Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib and also took strict notice of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s statement in the Parliament of linking Abhaya Mudra with the ideology of Sri Guru Nanak Dev.
Resolutions have also been passed against the arbitrary actions of forcing the Amritdhari (initiated) Sikh candidates to remove Kirpan in the judicial examination in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur and Kangana Ranaut’s comments against Punjabis.
Talking to the media after the EC meeting, Harjinder Singh Dhami said that considering the requirement of Granthi Singhs at Sri Harmandar Sahib, Bhai Kewal Singh serving among the Panj Piaras at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib and Batala-based kathawachak Bhai Parwinderpal Singh have been appointed as the Granthi Singhs.
He said that in this regard, various candidates were tested by the Jathedars of Takhts and Granthi Singhs of Sri Harmandar Sahib, after which two Granthi Singhs were appointed as per the recommendation.
Harjinder Singh Dhami said that many Sikh issues were on the agenda in today’s EC meeting. He said that action has been sought from the government against the guilty officials in the case of harassing and forcing the Amritdhari Sikh candidates to remove their Kakaars (Sikh symbols of faith) in the judicial examination in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur.
The SGPC President said that the Centre government should order the Rajasthan government to take action to register cases of hurting religious sentiments against the accused officials who barred Sikh candidates and forced them to remove Kakaars.
He said that even though everyone knows that forcing the initiated Sikh candidates to remove the Kakaar (kirpan, karra) is discrimination against the Sikhs, the five Kakaars are an integral part of the initiated Sikh identity.
He said under Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, Sikhs have the right to wear Kirpan, therefore, the arbitrary actions taken in Rajasthan are a gross violation of the Constitution. He said that the EC has decided to proceed according to the opinion of legal experts apart from writing to the Centre government in this matter.
Harjinder Singh Dhami said that the EC has also passed a resolution condemning the hateful comments made by BJP’s Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut against Punjab and Punjabis. He said that the Aam Aadmi Party government of Punjab not taking action on Kangana’s anti-Punjab hate speech is similar to turning its back on the representation of the state.
He asked the government to file a case against Kangana Ranaut, as she has defamed Punjabis by spreading hate against them.
The SGPC President also congratulated Gurjot Singh, a student of SGPC’s Nishchai Civil Services Training Centre for passing the 2024 preliminary examination of UPSC. He expressed the hope that he would increase the pride of the Sikh community by passing the main paper of this examination by working harder.
He expressed commitment that the Sikh organization will work more efficiently in this area. He said that for the upcoming session, 25 Sikh youths have been selected for the new batch of Nishchai Academy at Chandigarh and 25 Sikh youths for Nishchai Judicial Academy at Bahadurgarh Patiala.
Meanwhile, Harjinder Singh Dhami also shared the information that more than 250 youths from educational institutions of the SGPC have been selected for employment by various companies during a job fair organized by the Directorate of Education of SGPC in Chandigarh recently.
He reprimanded the Punjab government on the property-related matter of Gurdwara Baba Gandha Singh Ji Barnala, managed by SGPC that the government should refrain from interfering in the affairs of the Gurdwara. He said that managing Gurdwaras’ properties is the SGPC’s duty, in which government interference will not be tolerated.
Speaking about the woman who did yoga at Sri Harmandar Sahib, Harjinder Singh Dhami said that many people have given their opinion on this incident and she has also sent a written apology. But every religious place has its own rules and deliberate actions are not forgivable, he said.
The SGPC President said that in future, rules will be laid down regarding photography and videography at Sri Harmandar Sahib, however, with immediate effect, orders have been issued prohibiting any artist or actor from doing videography for their promotion.
In addition to the SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami, senior vice-president Harbhajan Singh Masana, junior vice president Gurbakhsh Singh Khalsa, general secretary Bhai Rajinder Singh Mehta, EC members Mohan Singh Bangi, Raghbir Singh Saharanmajra, Jasmer Singh Lachhru,
\Khushwinder Singh Bhatia, Bibi Hardeep Kaur Khokh, Indermohan Singh Lakhmirwala, Gurpreet Singh Jhabbar, Bibi Malkit Kaur Kamalpur, Amarjit Singh Bhaliapur, Jaswant Singh Purain, OSD Satbir Singh Dhami, secretary Partap Singh, Sukhminder Singh, Kulwinder Singh Ramdas, Tejinder Singh Padda, Gurdial Singh, Gurnam Singh, Shahbaz Singh, Harbhajan Singh Vakta were present.
Strict notice of Rahul Gandhi linking Abhaya Mudra with Sri Guru Nanak Dev in Parliament
The SGPC EC, taking strict notice of the comments made by the Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in the Parliament of India, regarding the philosophy and image of Sri Guru Nanak Dev, clarified that the holy Gurbani and teachings of the Gurus should not be made part of political debates without full knowledge.
The resolution passed in this regard said that often the basic principles of the Gurus and the meaning of the holy Gurbani are also misinterpreted by political people, which hurts the sentiments of the Sikh world.
Referring to Sri Guru Nanak Dev, Rahul Gandhi said that Guru Sahib’s image shows Abhaya Mudra, is completely wrong. In the resolution, it was clarified that Guru Sahib did not recognize any such mudra or asana, instead, refuting such phenomenon, he taught to connect with only one Akal Purakh (Timeless Being).
Through this resolution, the EC appealed to the Speakers of both the houses of Parliament – Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha – to ensure that no one’s religious sentiments are hurt during the proceedings of the Parliament.
Expressed grief over demise of Dal Khalsa leader Bhai Gajinder Singh
In the meeting of the EC meeting, deep grief was expressed over the demise of Bhai Gajinder Singh, one of the founder leaders of the Dal Khalsa, and condolences were expressed with his family.
The resolution passed in this regard said that the SGPC pays respect to the struggling life and sacrifice of Bhai Gajinder Singh, who lived in exile for a long time. Bhai Gajinder Singh’s resolutely guarding the Sikh principles and charting his life path in difficult circumstances is the epitome of his Panthic identity and the community will always remember him.
On this occasion, a condolence resolution was also passed over the demise of Kirpal Singh, father of the former senior vice president of SGPC Surjit Singh Bhittewad.
