Amritsar, October 28: Many important resolutions were passed during today’s general house meeting of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which were approved by the members present amid the Sikh victory slogan. The resolutions included raising voice against the anti-forces that are targeting the Sikh community, appealing to the government to stop the character assassination of Sikhs on social media, simplifying the process of the Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, demanding to arrest and punish the culprits of sacrilege cases, formation of Advisory Board to discuss the issues reaching Akal Takht Sahib and others.
In a resolution passed, it was said that the conspiracies of the anti-Panthic forces to distort the history, Maryada (conduct), and principles of the Sikhs were strongly condemned. It was resolved to strongly challenge the efforts of the governments and government agencies to suppress the unique existence of the Sikh Panthic and to weaken the Sikh traditions and institutions, to strongly oppose the conspiratorial policy being adopted by the political parties to destroy the Sikh institutions and towards the Sikh issues. Governments and its agencies were warned to immediately stop the conspiracies and tactics to undermine the Sikh faith and to complicate the issues of the Sikh community.
In a resolution expressing concern over the attacks on the Sikh community through social media, the Government of India was appealed to stop the hate propaganda against the Sikhs at all levels.
Similarly, through a resolution, both the Governments of India and Pakistan were thanked for extending the period of the corridor to Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib Sri Kartarpur Sahib for another five years and the process was demanded to be simplified for the pilgrims going to pay obeisance. Through the resolution, it was also asked to remove the condition of the passport, to give permission on the spot through Adhaar card instead of online registration, and to remove the condition of 20 dollars charged to the pilgrims.
In a resolution regarding the cases of sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in 2015, the arrests of Dera Sirsa chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim and his followers Honeypreet, Pradeep Kler, and other culprits of sacrilege were demanded. In the resolution, questions were raised about the intention of the Punjab government for not arresting Pardeep Kler despite being declared a proclaimed offender by the court in two cases.
A resolution demanded an immediate stop to the trend of portraying Sikhs in films, dramas, and serials in the wrong way. Along with this, the government was also asked to stop Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency film. Through this resolution, it was also demanded to permanently include a representative of the SGPC in the Central Film Certification Board to stop the negative portrayal of the Sikhs.
Passing another resolution, the Government of India was demanded to immediately resolve the long-pending issues related to the historical religious places of the Sikh community. It was said that by adopting a meaningful approach regarding the religious places of the Sikh community, their maintenance should be handed over to the SGPC.
Deep concern was also expressed over the deaths of youth due to drugs in Punjab. In the resolution, the government was asked to take appropriate steps for the prevention of drugs. An appeal was also made to the people and youth of Punjab to get organized and fulfill their responsibility to stop drugs.
Apart from this, keeping in view the contribution of Sikhs to the country, a resolution was also passed regarding the demand to maintain the minority recognition of technical and medical institutions of the Sikh community as earlier.
In an important resolution, the formation of an 11-member Advisory Board was also approved for the simplification of the matters that reach the Akal Takht Sahib.
Another resolution expressed concern over the feeling of insecurity among the Sikhs living in Canada and the USA, as some Sikh personalities have been targeted in Canada in the past. The Governments of India and Canada were urged to cooperate to bring out the truth and create a sense of security among the Sikhs living abroad.