Amritsar, March 30: During the budget session general house meeting of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) held at the Sikh body’s headquarter Teja Singh Samundri Hall at Sri Amritsar on March 30, several important resolutions have been passed regarding Sikh affairs.
These resolutions were presented by the SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami and passed amid resonance of jaikaras (Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akal) by the SGPC members present in the meeting.
The passed resolutions include strong condemnation of publication of distorted Gurbani of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, to celebrate ‘Gurmukhi Diwas’, demand to start direct flights to several foreign countries from Sri Amritsar, widening and beautification of the passages heading towards Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib and others.
Strongly condemning the publication and uploading of digital copy on the website of distorted Gurbani of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the SGPC general house meeting appealed to Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib to take strict action in this case. A strong objection has also been expressed on the unauthorised uploading and publication of different Gurbanis of Sri Guru Granth Sahib on various mobile applications and websites and a request has been made to Sri Akal Takht Sahib to issue directions in this regard.
In another resolution, a commitment was expressed to make planned efforts for uplifting the Gurmukhi Lipi (script) and a decision has been taken to celebrate the Gurtagaddi Diwas (Guruship Day) of Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji, the second Sikh Guru, as ‘Gurmukhi Diwas’.
Another SGPC general house resolution strongly demanded to start direct flights to various foreign countries like USA, Canada, European countries, Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand and others, from Sri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport, Amritsar. This resolution said that about 50 lakh Sikhs reside in different countries, who have to face inconvenience in the absence of direct flights from Punjab. An appeal has been made to the Government of India, to adopt a serious approach on this issue to start direct flights to above-said countries.
In a resolution, it has been demanded from the Punjab government to widen and beautify by giving the Sikh heritage look to the passages heading towards Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib. It said earlier a similar resolution was passed and sent to the Punjab government by the SGPC general house in November 2018, but the government did not act on the same. The general house demanded again to widen the passages towards Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib and respect the sentiments of the Sangat.
A resolution demanded from the Government of India to scrap the condition of having a passport for the pilgrims going to Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib at Narowal through Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor and it has also been demanded from Punjab Government to develop the historic town of Dera Baba Nanak as Sikh heritage city.
Another resolution appealed to the Governments of India and Pakistan to give approval to mark 100 year centenary of Shaheedi Saka (martyrdom massacre) of Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib and to the pilgrims going to Pakistan on this occasion. This centenary related to massacre at Sri Panja Sahib will be marked on October 30, 2022 and samagams (congregations) would be held in India and Pakistan as well.
One resolution of the SGPC general house meeting strongly condemned the people who spread false propaganda against SGPC. The resolution said some people are deliberately defaming the SGPC and running misleading propaganda about the trusts of SGPC. It has been clarified that the trusts of SGPC are its property and the SGPC President is working as their chairman and the administrative responsibilities are with the organisation secretaries. An appeal has been made to the Sangat to beware of the deliberate propaganda defaming SGPC.
A resolution has also been passed about Sikh political prisoners who are lodged in different jails of India for the last three decades. The resolution asked the Government of India (GOI) that an announcement was made to release the Sikh prisoners on the occasion of 550th Prakash Gurpurb (birth anniversary) of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, which has not been implemented till date. An appeal has been made to the GOI to take an early decision in this regard and release the Sikh prisoners. These prisoners include Prof Devinderpal Singh Bhullar, Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara, Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana, and others.
One more resolution condemned the injustice being done with the Punjab and especially Sikhs by the Government of India. Terming the decision of the Centre government to implement central civil services rules on the employees of Chandigarh administration as unfortunate, it has been said that it is to impose officers from outside Punjab in Chandigarh, which should be immediately withdrawn. Similarly, scrapping the permanent membership of Punjab from Bhakra Beas Management Board has also been termed as a discriminatory decision with Punjab.
A resolution appealed to the Government of India to resolve the long pending issues related to historical holy shrines associated with Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, including Gurdwara Gian Godrhi Har Ki Paurhi at Haridwar, Gurdwara Guru Dongmar and Chungthang at Sikkim, Gurdwara Bawli Matth, Mangu Matth and Punjabi Matth at Jagannath Puri, Odisha.
SGPC general house also strongly condemned the decision of restricting pilgrims from carrying Kesri flags and photos of Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale by the Himachal Pradesh government and a strict warning has been given to the Himachal Pradesh government that it should refrain from adopting anti-Sikh tactics.
SGPC general house passed a resolution to express commitment for providing higher education to Amritdhari (initiated) Sikh girls. It has been decided that on the lines of free education being provided to 200 Amritdhari Sikh girls at Mata Sahib Kaur Girls College, Talwandi Sabo, now free education, and hostel and food facilities will also be provided to 200 more Amritdhari Sikh girls at Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Sri Fatehgarh Sahib.
Similarly, SGPC general house passed that four medical stores will be opened to provide medicines at cost price to the needy at Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib at Sri Anandpur Sahib, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib at Talwandi Sabo and Gurdwara Birh Baba Buddha Sahib, Thatha, Tarn Taran.
SGPC general house also passed condolences resolutions to pay tributes to the personalities who passed away in the recent past including for Ustad Prof Kartar Singh, Takht Sri Harmandar Ji Patna Sahib’s head granthi Giani Rajinder Singh, Baba Iqbal Singh Baru Sahib, prominent Sikh and member of Sri Guru Ramdas Charitable Hospital Dr Hardas Singh, Baba Manjit Singh Harkhowal, former SGPC members S. Harinder Singh Ranian, Jathedar Harbans Singh Ghuman, Principal Bhagwant Singh and S. Sukhwinder Singh Jhabal.