Amritsar, March 28, 2025 (Yes Punjab News)
Several important resolutions were passed during the annual budget session of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
These include approval to form rules regarding the appointment, jurisdiction and retirement of the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, demand from the Centre Government to build a suitable memorial dedicated to the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadar Sahib,
condemnation of the statement made in Parliament by Home Minister Amit Shah regarding Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale, condemnation of the atmosphere of hatred being created against Sikhs outside Punjab, preservation of historical and heritage buildings related to the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Punjab, determination of reserved quotas for Sikhs in the army, release of Sikh prisoners, and farmers’ protest.
An important resolution passed in the general session approved that soon rules regarding the qualification, appointment, scope of work and retirement of the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib will be formed. In this regard, it was also decided to constitute a high-level committee of Panthic representatives, which will complete this task.
In the resolution regarding the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadar being marked in November 2025, an appeal was made to the Government of India to establish a suitable memorial to make this sacred occasion memorable and to make the coming generations aware of the teachings and principles of the Guru Sahib.
The resolution also demanded the establishment of a national level educational institution or research center in the name of Guru Tegh Bahadar, the issuance of special postage stamps and commemorative coins.
Recently, the statements made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Parliament of India regarding Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale and his sarcasm on the recitation of Gurbani were strongly condemned.
The resolution passed in this regard said that Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale is Sikh community’s martyr, against whom a responsible person of the country should not give hateful views in the largest forum of democracy, the Indian Parliament, as it is an insult to the multi-ethnic and multi-religious civilization of the country.
The resolution asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah to respect the Sikh sentiments and refrain from such derogatory statements.
Similarly, expressing concern over the atmosphere of hatred being created against Sikhs in states outside Punjab, a resolution was passed demanding action against communal elements.
The resolution mentioned the recent targeting of Sikh pilgrims going to visit Gurdwaras by some people in Himachal Pradesh, forcibly tearing flags with pictures of Sikh heroes on the vehicles of Sikh pilgrims, and asked the Himachal Pradesh government to adopt a serious approach on this serious issue and take action against the culprits. The resolution also raised questions over the Punjab government’s silence on the matter.
In a resolution passed, the SGPC welcomed the conviction of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a case related to the Saraswati Vihar incident of the Sikh genocide in Delhi in November 1984 and demanded strict punishment for the culprits in other cases and justice for the victims.
Referring to the pitiful condition of historical and heritage places and buildings related to the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, a resolution demanded that the Punjab government should prepare a concrete policy to enhance and preserve the Sikh heritage wherever it exists. The session also expressed the commitment of the SGPC to provide necessary support for this work.
In a resolution, it demanded that a visa office be opened in Amritsar for the convenience of Sikh pilgrims visiting Gurdwaras in Pakistan and that visas be given to pilgrims during normal days in addition to the routine jathas as per the demand of the Sangat.
Along with this, it was demanded from the Indian government to make easy arrangements for the Sikhs living in Pakistan to visit Sikh shrines in India.
The resolution said that on the lines of Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, one-day visa should be granted to Sikhs of Pakistan to allow them to visit Sri Harmandar Sahib. This resolution also asked the governments of India and Pakistan to resume bilateral trade, which had been suspended for a long time.
A resolution also demanded to allocate special reserved quotas for Sikhs in the Indian Army. The resolution mentioned the great sacrifices made by the Sikh community for the defense of the country and the significant contribution made in the army and asked the Ministry of Defense to allocate quotas for Sikhs, so that the traditional role of Sikhs in the army is strengthened.
During the session, expressing deep concern over the serious and sensitive issue of the Sikh prisoners, the Indian government was urged to immediately release them, respecting the Sikh sentiments.
The resolution said that many young men of the Sikh community, who have made sacrifices for justice, truth and the protection of rights, have been in jail for three decades, having also completed their legal sentences. Not releasing them is a big question for our justice system and democracy.
The negative role adopted by the governments in the current farmers’ struggle was also strongly condemned. In this regard, the resolution said that farmers are the backbone of the Indian economy, who are struggling for their legitimate demands.
The governments’ neglect of the farmers’ demands will not only be detrimental to the agriculture sector, but will also weaken the roots of democracy. The resolution also asked the government to withdraw the false cases registered against the farmer leaders and take immediate and right decisions in favour of the farmers including the law guaranteeing the minimum support price for crops.
While passing another resolution, the punishments to the police officers involved in the fake encounters of several Sikh youths by the CBI court in Mohali were also welcomed and it was demanded that its scope be further expanded.
The resolution said that the way the government targeted and killed the Sikh youths in the decade after 1984 has become clear from the punishments given by the court to the police officers in the fake encounter related cases.
The resolution highlighted the cases of Sikh youths who were targeted in fake police encounters, praised the efforts of martyred Bhai Jaswant Singh Khalra and those who played a key role in getting the guilty police officers punished, and demanded that the government give strict punishment to all the culprits in such cases.
Along with this, the phenomenon of fake encounters by the police was also condemned in the present times.
