SGPC lodges complaint to police commissioner seeking strict action against Prime Asia TV channel
Act sought under Section 295-A, 500, 120-B IPC and 66-A IT Act
Amritsar, April 2: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has lodged a complaint with Amritsar Commissioner of Police against Prime Asia TV channel owner Aman Khatkar, its journalists Jatinder Pannu, Gurpreet Sandhawalia, cameraman and telecaster for deliberately defaming the SGPC through its programs and sought action against them under relevant Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology (IT) Act.
The complaint was handed over to the Police Commissioner by manager of Sri Darbar Sahib S. Sulakhan Singh and those present on this occasion included SGPC member Advocate Bhagwant Singh Sialka, SGPC secretary S. Mohinder Singh, additional secretary S. Partap Singh, S. Bijai Singh, assistant secretary S. Kulwinder Singh, S. Sakatar Singh, S. Balwinder Singh, S. Gurinder Singh, S. Nirvail Singh and the employees in large numbers.
After receiving the complaint from SGPC office-bearers and officials, Amritsar DCP S. Parminder Singh Bhandal assured to take immediate action.
Speaking at the Police Commissioner office, SGPC member Advocate Bhagwant Singh Sialka said that recently baseless allegations were levelled against SGPC through a video program by Prime Asia TV, through which the reputation of the organisation has been tarnished with false propaganda. S. Bhagwant Singh said the channel falsely alleged that SGPC resells the holy Chandoa Sahib offered at Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib by the Sangat.
“The truth is that SGPC does the entire work related to Chandoa Sahib as per the rules and the Chandoa Sahib offered once at Sri Harmandar Sahib is not offered again. After it is decorated at the holy shrine, the Chandoa Sahib are kept safe with due respect after placing a stamp of Sri Harmandar Sahib on them and these are then provided to the Sangat from across the world as per their demand on the order of SGPC President, for decorating them at different Gurdwara Sahibs, as per the relevant rules”, said S. Bhagwant Singh.
He added that the record of every single Chandoa Sahib is registered as per rules with the details of Sangat that offers them and to whom it has been given but the Prime Asia channel deliberately attempted to defame the management of Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib worldwide without any facts.
The SGPC member said that SGPC especially released a video in this regard and provided factual information to the Sangat through its social media platforms but due to the act of the accused channel, the religious sentiments of the Sikh Sangat have been hurt. He added that apart from this matter related to Chandoa Sahib, this channel has several times defamed the SGPC and management of Sri Harmandar Sahib by making many baseless allegations.
Accordingly, SGPC demanded strict action after registration of case against the channel owner Aman Khatkar, anchor Gurpreet Sandhawalia and journalist Jatinder Pannu under Section 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class), 500 (punishment for defamation) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 66-A (punishment for sending offensive messages through communication service) of the IT Act.
He said this channel, especially Jatinder Pannu have published baseless programs defaming the SGPC and management of Sri Harmandar Sahib, due to which, the Sangat are expressing their protest. He added that such people deliberately spread false propaganda against the Sikh community on social media and the SGPC would not allow anyone to do so. He added that anybody defaming the SGPC without any reason and facts will not be spared.