The Punjab Cabinet on Monday gave its assent to a move seeking to amend The Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925. The aim is to ensure free-to-air telecast of the ‘Gurbani’ (sacred hymn) from the Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) in Amritsar.
The government decision invited sharp criticism from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) - the body responsible for the management of Gurdwaras.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who chaired the meeting, said “The Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Act, 2023 will eliminate unwarranted control of the free-to-air telecast of the sacred Gurbani.”
He said the Cabinet has approved amending of The Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925 and decided to insert Section 125 A in the Act thereby making it incumbent on the SGPC to ensure free-to-air live telecast of the ‘Gurbani’ from Harmandir Sahib.
Hitting out at the government, the SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami condemned the announcement made by Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Singh Mann.
Mr. Dhami said “Mr. Mann wants to please his masters in Delhi by giving a political colour to the religious affairs of Sikhs.”
The Gurbani broadcast rights are granted by the SGPC and are currently with G-Next Media (PTC Channel), which is owned by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Mr. Dhami said that the worldwide broadcast of Gurbani continues and no money is taken from the community. “The deal to broadcast Gurbani which is with G-Next Media (PTC Channel) will conclude in the month of July this year, the SGPC sub-committee is working on the next arrangement,” he said.
Mr. Dhami alleged that the AAP government is directly interfering in the religious affairs of Sikhs to further its political interests even though the state government has no right to amend the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925.
In his reaction to the SGPC, Mr. Mann, said: “how is the decision an attack on the ‘panth’ (Siks). He was just opposing the control of a particular channel over the telecast of Gurbani, which is totally unwarranted and unjustified.” The Chief Minister asserted that the State government is fully competent to amend the act as the Supreme Court has already ruled it is not an interstate Act.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Badal criticised the government for what he called an attempt to seize control of the Gurdwaras.
The Congress looked divided on the issue. Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira said it was a “sad day for Sikhs”, while former party state president Navjot Singh Sidhu praised the Chief Minister and said the move was “commendable”.
Dal Khalsa leaders including H.S. Cheema and Kanwar Pal Singh accused the State government of meddling in the religious affairs of Sikhs, saying “Sikhs have to stop state interferance at all costs. Whatever CM Mann is planning will have serious consequences in the future.”
Dal Khalsa, asked Sukhbir Singh Badal to hand over ownership of the PTC (Gurbani) channel to the SGPC. It said the SGPC should come up with its own channel.
