Amritsar, March 4, 2023 – (Yes Punjab News)
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has opened Nishchay Academy in Chandigarh to prepare Amritdhari (initiated) Sikh students for the competitive exams of IAS, IPS, PCS, and others, for which an agreement has been signed with an institute in Chandigarh. Under this project, the coaching, stay and other expenses of 25 Sikh students will be borne by the SGPC every year.
SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami said this on Saturday while speaking to the media after the executive committee (EC) meeting in Amritsar. He said that the EC has approved to prepare 25 Sikh students for the competitive exams in the said academy as per their merit.
“This process will start from April 1 and will continue every year. Apart from 25 students to be prepared by the SGPC this year, the expenses of 10 more students would be borne by Bhai Ram Singh, leader of United Singh Sabha Foundation. Accordingly, 35 Sikh students will be able to prepare for the competitive exams in the first year. The purpose of this project is to bring Sikh candidates to the high positions in the administrative services”, said Harjinder Singh Dhami.
About the other EC decisions, SGPC President said that it has been decided to convene this year’s budget session of SGPC on March 28, which will be held at Teja Singh Samundri Hall at 1 pm. In this session, the budget of SGPC, Dharam Prachar Committee, trust, general board fund, Gurdwara Sahibs, press and educational institutions will be presented, he said. The budget sub-committee has given its recommendations, considering which the budget priorities would be made.
Harjinder Singh Dhami said that the EC has also taken serious notice of direct and indirect interference in Sikh issues by governments.
“Government ministers are giving wrong colour to Sikh affairs. Recently Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has hurt Sikh sentiments by rejecting the history of Gurdwara Guru Dongmar Sahib, Sikkim, the holy place associated with Sri Guru Nanak Dev. Gurdwara Dongmar Sahib and the lake there has a direct connection with Sri Guru Nanak Dev, who visited there during the third Udasi (long travel) in 1515-16 AD. Its case is being fought by the SGPC in the Sikkim High Court, but the matter being sub-judice, the Union Finance Minister has violated the conduct of her constitutional position by making a one-sided statement”, said Harjinder Singh Dhami.
Notably, the Union Minister Sitharaman during her recent visit to Dongmar Lake in Sikkim had stated that this lake is named after Guru Padmasambhava, a Buddhist Vajra master, which is false.
He said the governments are deliberately entangling Sikh affairs. The governments have deliberately interfered in the affairs of Takht Sri Patna Sahib, Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee and now, the Sikh shrines in Haryana. He said that the SGPC will not remain silent against such government interference and the struggle will be intensified. On this serious matter, a movement will be created by contacting the parties related to minorities and those representing human rights throughout India.
Others present in the meeting included senior vice president Baldev Singh Qaimpur, junior vice president Avtar Singh Raya, general secretary Bhai Gurcharan Singh Grewal, executive members Jarnail Singh Kartarpur, Surjit Singh Tughalwal, Bawa Singh Gumanpura, Bibi Gurinder Kaur Bholuwala, Gurnam Singh Jassal, Paramjit Singh Khalsa, Sher Singh Mandwala, Baba Gurpreet Singh and Malkit Singh Changal, SGPC secretary Partap Singh, OSD Satbir Singh Dhami, additional secretary Paramjit Singh Saroa, Sukhminder Singh, Kulwinder Singh Ramdas, Gurinder Singh Mathrewal, Simarjit Singh, deputy secretary Gurcharan Singh Kohala, Jaswinder Singh Jassi, Shahbaz Singh, superintendent Malkit Singh, in-charge Harbhajan Singh Vakta, Gurnam Singh, Balwinder Singh Khairabad, Tarsem Singh Gill, XeN Paramjit Singh and Jatinderpal Singh.
