General meeting to elect SGPC president & office-bearers on November 9
SGPC files review petition in Supreme Court in HSGMC Act case: Advocate Dhami
Amritsar, October 18: The general meeting to elect office-bearers including President of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and members of executive committee will be held on November 9. This was announced by SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami on Tuesday.
The general meeting will be held at SGPC’s headquarters Teja Singh Samundri Hall at 1 pm, in which, president, senior vice-president, junior vice-president, general secretary and 11 executive members will be elected.
Addressing the press conference at SGPC office in Amritsar, SGPC President said the office-bearers of SGPC are elected in the month of November every year, and this year, the general meeting will be held on November 9.
He said that the SGPC being the representative Sikh body, always strives to manage Gurdwara Sahibs as per the Panthic code of conduct besides making efforts to pursue issues of community and it is performing its duties diligently.
“Most important issue at this time is the release of Bandi Singhs (Sikh political prisoners), about which the SGPC is serious. In this regard, a five-member panel of senior lawyers has been formed, which will work to take the whole matter forward from legal aspects. A meeting of Sikh scholars and senior lawyers will also be convened soon”, said Advocate Dhami.
SGPC President said that the issue of separate Gurdwara management committee for Haryana will also be discussed in a meeting with the scholars and lawyers.
“Yesterday, the SGPC filed a review petition in the case related to Haryana Sikh Gurdwara (Management) Act, 2014 and today, SGPC member from Kurukshetra Harbhajan Singh Masanan has also filed a review petition on his behalf”, said Advocate Dhami.
He said centenary congregation dedicated to Shaheedi Saka (martyrdom massacre) Panja Sahib is being organised at Gurdwara Manji Sahib Diwan Hall in Amritsar on October 27, and the issue of Bandi Singhs and separate Haryana Gurdwara committee will also be discussed in a Panthic gathering on this day. Maximum Sikh organisations and Panthic intellectuals should participate in this congregation, so that future programs can be announced.
SGPC President shares details of aid
Speaking to the media, SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh said that about 61,000 people took Amrit (initiated into Sikh faith) during the 10 months long campaign of religious propagation. He also shared details of aid provided by SGPC under different funds.
Advocate Dhami said that to assist the Bandi Singhs in their cases and support their families with aid, the SGPC has so far spent Rs 1.37 crore. Similarly, an aid has been provided of Rs 2.85 crore to the families of farmers who lost their lives and got injured during year-long farmers’ protest, Rs 8.85 crore for Dharmi Faujis (those who left Army jobs in protest against 1984 military attack on Sri Darbar Sahib), Rs 31.91 crore for cancer patients, Rs 2.42 for Sikhs lodged in Jodhpur jail, Rs 1.15 crore for Jammu & Kashmir flood victims, and Rs 14.79 crore to needy under Dharam Arth Fund.
Advocate Dhami the SGPC’s Dharam Prachar Committee (DPC) has given big support to Amritdhari (initiated) students, under religious examination, and Sikligar and Vanjara Sikhs. He said during 2021-22 session, scholarships of Rs 2.10 crore has been given to Amritdhari students, Rs 52.35 lakh to Amritdhari girl students under free education scheme, Rs 43.48 lakh to Sikligar and Vanjara Sikhs, Rs 23.87 lakh to students who gave religious examination. He said apart from pursuing the Sikh issues, the SGPC is committed and will remain so, to preaching and propagation of Sikh faith.
Earlier, during DPC meeting presided over by SGPC President, discussions were held regarding organising centenary congregations dedicated to Saka Panja Sahib. Apart from this, SGPC president also congratulated SGPC hockey team for winning SNBP All India Championship and Gatka (Sikh martial arts) team for winning state-level Gatka competitions and decided to honour them.
Present in the meeting included DPC members Ajaib Singh Abhyasi, Sukhwarsh Singh Pannu, Avtar Singh Vanwala, Rampal Singh Behniwal, SGPC members Surjit Singh Bhittewad, Amarjeet Singh Bhalaipur, OSD Satbir Singh Dhami, additional Balwinder Singh Kahlwan, Kulwinder Singh Ramdas, assistant secretary Paramjit Singh Duniyamajra, Kuldeep Singh Rode, in-charge Shahbaz Singh, Varinder Singh Tharu, Bikramjit Singh, Harjinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh and more.