Filter system to be installed in sarovar of Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib, Tarn Taran
Election for SGPC President, office-bearers on November 8
Amritsar, October 19:
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has expressed commitment in favour of Punjab on the issue of the Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal and made it clear that no one will be allowed to loot the waters of Punjab. A special resolution has been passed against the SYL in a meeting of the SGPC’s executive committee (EC) held under the leadership of SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, the SGPC President said that no coercive action will be tolerated on the water issue of Punjab. He said that after the recent instruction given by the Supreme Court to the Centre and Punjab government regarding the survey of SYL, it is the duty of the Punjab government to represent the rights and interests of the state and clearly register its strong stand against SYL. He said that such a situation has arisen only because the Punjab government did not present the stand of the state rightly in the court.
Harjinder Singh Dhami said the executive has clearly resolved that if any injustice is done on the issue of water, the SGPC will stand firmly in favour of Punjab. The SGPC assures the people of Punjab and the political, social, farmers’ and religious organizations standing in opposition to SYL that the Sikh body will play the leading role wherever needed. He said that Punjab is already moving towards the serious problem of dark zones due to the limited availability of canal water and extraction of groundwater through lakhs of tube wells. Most of the water from Punjab’s share is being given to the states of Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi in violation of the international riparian law. In return for this, no compensation is given to Punjab either in the past or present. If there is any injustice done on the issue of the waters of Punjab, it will not be tolerated. The SGPC President also appealed to the Government of India to ensure that no injustice is done to Punjab in view of the international riparian law and humanitarian concerns related to water on this sensitive issue of the state.
The SGPC executive also took many other important decisions. In a resolution, it has been demanded from the Punjab government to restore the red cards of the 1984 Sikh Genocide victims in Ludhiana, which were cancelled in the last government. Speaking about this, Harjinder Singh Dhami said the Sikh Genocide is an unforgettable tragedy. He said it is very sad that instead of giving justice, the victims are being harassed more. He said the previous Congress government of Punjab had done an injustice by cancelling 135 red cards of 1984 Sikh Genocide victims. He said that the Punjab government should immediately restore the cancelled red cards and after listening to the victims, make other necessary welfare schemes for them.
Harjinder Singh Dhami said that the executive has also decided to install a filter system with modern technology to keep the water of Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib Tarn Taran Sarovar clean. The Sewa (voluntary service) of this filter system has been given to Lakhwinder Singh Kahneke, President of Diwan Todar Mal Foundation and a USA-based Sikh Nirmal Singh Chandi.
He said the SGPC has also decided to honour Sabat Surat (one with unshorn hair) Sikh player Jarmanpreet Singh of the Indian hockey team which won the gold medal in the Asian Games 2023, with an amount of Rs 2 lakh. He said that other hockey players belonging to Punjab will also be honoured with Rs 50,000 each. Similarly, rifle shooting athlete Sifat Kaur will also be honoured with Rs 50,000.
He said that the executive committee has also expressed commitment to continue the struggle for the Bandi Singhs (Sikh prisoners). He said that the SGPC had organized a signature campaign for the release of Bandi Singhs and filled up about 26 lakh forms, which would be sent to the President of India through the Governor of Punjab. He said that appointment has been sought from the Governor of Punjab to discuss the issue of Sikh prisoners.
Harjinder Singh Dhami also welcomed the inclusion of self-declaration in the voter form for the SGPC elections by the Gurdwara Election Commission, “I truly declare that I am a Sikh, I believe in Sri Guru Granth Sahib and ten Sikh Gurus and I have no other religion”. He said that the SGPC had objected to the non-inclusion of this self-declaration. It was necessary that the form should have been issued by taking the Sikh institutions into confidence.
Harjinder Singh Dhami also informed that the SGPC has released an application for live audio Gurbani Kirtan from Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib as per the daily Maryada (conduct) of the entire day. He said that this app has been named SGPC Gurbani Kirtan, through which the community members will be able to listen to uninterrupted audio streaming of Kirtan for the entire conduct.
Apart from this, it was also decided to give offices to the SGPC office-bearers. In this regard, a demand was submitted by SGPC general secretary Bhai Gurcharan Singh Grewal, which was accepted. Apart from the SGPC President, these offices will be developed for the senior vice-president, junior vice-president and general secretary.
The meeting was attended by the SGPC executive members and key officials.
General house for election of SGPC President, office-bearers on November 8
The general house session for the annual election of the SGPC President, senior vice-president, junior vice-president, general secretary and the members of the executive committee will be held on November 8. This general meeting will be held at 1 pm at Teja Singh Samundri Hall located in the SGPC office. Harjinder Singh Dhami shared this information with the media after the executive meeting today. He said that as per the Sikh Gurdwaras Act 1925, the office-bearers of the SGPC are elected annually and accordingly, the meeting has been called on November 8.