Help desk set up at Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib for convenience of Sangat

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami today inaugurated special help desks at Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib after ardas (prayer), set up for providing information to Sangat arriving here. These desks have been set up at the plaza outside Sri Harmandar Sahib.

The attendants deputed here will give information to arriving Sangat about history of Sri Harmandar Sahib besides other Sikh shrines, langar (community kitchen) Sri Guru Ramdas Ji, and sarais (inns).

While inaugurating the help desk, SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami said that Sri Harmandar Sahib is center of devotion for people from across the world and the Sangat (pilgrims) arrive here to pay obeisance not only from Punjab but other states and abroad too. He said the Sangat from outside Punjab often face problem due to lack of knowledge, therefore, this help desk has been set up.

SGPC President said although the Information Center at Sri Harmandar Sahib is already providing its services to Sangat but in view of need of the time, it is important to set up different help desks in public spaces. He said religious literature will also be provided to the Sangat at these desks, which will include booklets having information about Sikh faith and history and maryada (conduct) of Sri Harmandar Sahib. He added the religious literature to be distributed from here will be in multiple languages.

He said presently only one help desk has been started and another one will he set up towards the Langar Hall side in near future.

Present on this occasion included SGPC executive members Harjap Singh Sultanwind, Amarjit Singh Bandala, members Bhai Rajinder Singh Mehta, Surjit Singh Bhittewad, Bhai Ram Singh, secretary Pratap Singh, OSD to SGPC President Satbir Singh Dhami, assistant secretary Kulwinder Singh Ramdas, Balwinder Singh Kahlwan, Tejinder Singh Padda, Gurcharan Singh Kuhala, Satnam Singh Mangasarai, Kuldeep Singh Rode, manager Sri Darbar Sahib Sulakhan Singh Bhangali, in-charge Shahbaz Singh, information officer Jaswinder Singh Jassi.

SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami said it is highly unfortunate that the Sangat was harassed and stopped by the administration during the visit of Punjab Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann to pay obeisance at Sri Harmandar Sahib on the day of first Prakash Purb of Guru Granth Sahib. He said the political leaders should visit to pay obeisance at the Guru’s house as humble Sikh and not in an authoritarian manner.

Advocate Dhami said it was not right to stop the Sangat for long time in the passages and in plaza during visit of S. Bhagwant Singh Mann. He said first Prakash Purb of Guru Granth Sahib is an important day for the Sangat, when lakhs of pilgrims visit Sri Harmandar Sahib to express their devotion. It is good that the Chief Minister expressed devotion on this occasion but the misbehaviour of administration with the Sangat hurts their devotion. He said earlier similar incident had taken place at Sultanpur Lodhi, and keeping that in view, the SGPC after taking decision in its executive committee meeting had appealed to political leaders to not to be reason for harassment of Sangat that arrives to pay obeisance. He said S. Bhagwant Singh Mann should refrain from committing acts that hurts the sentiments of Sangat.

To discuss future course of action under the efforts of SGPC regarding release of Bandi Singhs (Sikh political prisoners) lodged in different Indian jails, the SGPC has called a meeting of all its members on September 2. The meeting will be held at SGPC’s headquarters Teja Singh Samundri Hall.

SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami said the governments are doing injustice with Sikhs lodged in dungeons of jails for long time and the issue of release of these Bandi Singhs is important. He said SGPC is making regular efforts for release of Bandi Singhs but sadly the governments are not giving justice to Sikhs. He said to plan and strategise future course of action under struggle for release of Bandi Singhs, a gathering of all members of SGPC has been called on September 2, and further steps will be taken as per consensual opinion made on that day.

Meanwhile, SGPC President Advocate Dhami also strongly condemned the mischievous efforts being made in Punjab for religious conversion in the name of Christianity by some so-called Christian missionaries and termed these acts being done to divide communities. He said registering a case against Nihung Sikhs after they made effort to stop some people working for religious conversion at Daduana village on Mehta road is highly unfortunate, which raises question on the working of government. He said the land of Punjab lives in the names of Gurus and the view of religious freedom blossomed here. “It is sad that some people are deliberately disturbing environment of Punjab by giving it communal color, which will not be tolerated. Punjab Government should immediately cancel the case registered against Nihung Sikhs in Daduana area, who raised their voice to stop religious conversion and strict action should be taken against people who are converting people forcibly, by allurement, fraudulent manner and by spreading superstitions”, said Advocate Dhami.