Amritsar, November 9-
During today’s annual general house session of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), several important resolutions regarding Sikh issues were passed. In the first resolution, all the organisations and people who supported in observing the centenaries of Morcha Guru Ka Bagh and Shaheedi Saka (martyrdom massacre) Sri Panja Sahib were thanked and an appeal was made to Sikh Qaum (community) to move forward in an organized manner towards the community’s goals by getting inspiration from these sakas and morchas (massacres and fronts) of Sikh history.
Through a resolution, the separate Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) was rejected absolutely, terming it as a ploy by the anti-Sikh forces to weaken the Sikh power. HSGMC was said to be unconstitutional, which would never be accepted. In this resolution, the tactics used by the Congress, BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party for trying to HSGMC were exposed and it was said that according to the Sikh Gurdwaras Act 1925, the management of Gurdwaras in the state of Haryana is and will remain with the SGPC. It was made clear to the Government of India that in this matter it should respect the Sikh sentiments and bring a resolution in Parliament to repeal Haryana Sikh Gurdwara (Management) Act, 2014.
The discriminatory policy being adopted by the governments in the matter of release of Bandi Singhs (Sikh political prisoners) was condemned in strong terms through a resolution. The resolution said that not releasing Bandi Singhs is a big injustice to the Sikhs, while the governments are showing their real face by releasing murderers and rapists. It was passed in resolution that the SGPC will continue to be committed for the release of Bandi Singhs and to further this movement, the campaign of filling forms from the Sangat will be started from December 1, 2022, after which the filled forms will be handed over to the Governor of Punjab.
In a resolution, the Centre government’s plan to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) throughout the country was strongly opposed. It was said that this plan is another step towards making the country a Hindu Rashtra. In this resolution, it was clarified to the Centre Government that India being a multilingual, multi-religious country, people of different communities live here and the minorities especially the Sikhs made a special contribution to the freedom struggle and to save the country’s culture. But the minorities living here are being suppressed and their religious and social concerns are being interfered with. It was said that the BJP government at the Centre is running under the agenda of raising the majority under the influence of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) and the plan to implement a UCC in the country is also a part of this. It is not in the interest of the country and it should not be implemented.
Through a resolution calling the Sikh Genocide of June and November 1984, was termed as an oozing wound of Sikh community, and strict punishment to its perpetrators was demanded from the government. It was said that even after setting up several committees, commissions and investigation teams to investigate the Sikh Genocide 1984, the Sikhs did not get justice even after 38 years. The resolution said that the governments should be serious about lodging each and every accused behind the bars and a resolution of public apology should be passed in the Parliament for the anti-Sikh incidents of June and November 1984.
Along with this, two important resolutions were also passed regarding pilgrimage to the Sikh shrine in Pakistan. A resolution said that open alternatives should be prepared for pilgrims to visit shrines in Pakistan. Therefore, the governments of both India and Pakistan should pay special attention to the issues concerned. Train and bus service should be ensured for pilgrims going to Pakistan. A visa center should be opened at Amritsar besides Delhi to encourage pilgrims and arrangements should be made to issue on-arrival visas at the border to the Sangat passing through the Attari-Wagah border. Issuance of special family visas for long stay should also be ensured. In another resolution, on the lines of the four jathas going to Pakistan every year on four occasions, it was demanded to include three more jathas on the occasion of Joti Jot Diwas of Guru Nanak Dev, Prakash Gurpurb (birth anniversary) of Guru Ramdas and Shaheedi Saka of Nankana Sahib.
The government appealed to abolish the condition of passport for pilgrims going to Gurudwara Sri Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan through Kartarpur Corridor and to simplify the process, instead of online registration process; permission was sought for on the spot pilgrimage on Aadhar card.
Deep concern was also expressed about the increasing menace of drugs in Punjab, the land of the Gurus. It was said that the statistics of drugs on the land of Punjab is serious, for which the governments should be aware. Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib had also expressed concern on drug issues in his message on Bandi Chhorh Diwas. Presenting the figures in the resolution, it was said that they are not compatible with the concerns of Punjab. The trend of drugs on the land of Punjab is a deep conspiracy to separate the youth from their culture, traditions and heritage, which is no less than the genocide of Punjabis. It was demanded from the state government that planning should be done to eliminate legal and illegal drugs from Punjab. Instead of the income from government sold drugs and liquor, other alternatives of income should be created, because the social evil of drugs is against the philosophy of the Gurus and their elimination is necessary to create a prosperous Punjab. It was also said that the government should confiscate the properties of the drug dealers and take a sincere approach towards the youth addicted to drugs and give them employment opportunities.
Through a resolution, the Punjab government was asked to rectify the haphazard traffic arrangement which was adversely affecting the Sangat coming to pay obeisance at Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib. It was demanded to prepare a solid policy for the routes leading to Sri Darbar Sahib, the central Sikh shrine, from different gates of Sri Amritsar. It was asked to make sure to regulate auto, e-rickshaws and cycle rickshaws here.
Through a resolution passed, it was also decided to appoint member-in-charges of various institutions of SGPC, for the smooth functioning.
During the general meeting, Mool Mantra and Gur Mantra were recited to pay homage to many prominent personalities of the community, who passed away in the recent past.