Shiromani Committee’s decision to reject Mann government’s decision to free holy Gurbani’s telecast from the monopoly of one channel is unfortunate: Malvinder Singh Kang

It’s high time that SGPC should be free of the influence of Badal family, says Kang

Nabaz-e-Punjab Bureau, Chandigarh, June 26:
The decision made by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to amend Article 125 to broadcast ‘Sarbsanjhi Gurbani’ to every corner of the world absolutely free, was rejected today in a special meeting of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee in a shameful attempt to save the politics of one family. Whereas today the committee had an opportunity to act according to the sentiments of the Sikhs and free this great institution from the influence of the Badal family.

Addressing a press conference at the Aam Aadmi Party headquarters in Chandigarh, AAP Punjab Chief Spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang termed the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s rejection to broadcast free Gurbani as unfortunate. He also questioned Shiromani Committee President Harjinder Singh Dhami, is it in line with Sikh traditions to forward your own political agenda, limit the broadcasting rights of Gurbani to one particular channel and build a business of crores through advertisement, TRP etc., all in the name of holy Gurbani.

Kang asked that on what basis the Shiromani Committee President is terming this decision of the Mann government as anti-Sikh. Doesn’t he know that Bhagwant Mann was also elected by the Sikhs of Punjab. So according to S. Dhami only the three elected MLAs of the Akali Dal represent the Sikhs, then what about the rest of the MLAs?

Kang said that the SGPC president should tell that today they are declaring the issue of Gurbani broadcasting as an attack on the panth, calling a special meeting, but why the SGPC did not do all this when a counterfeit was pardoned wrongfully and then ads worth millions were published to prove it right. Was it not an attack on the panth! When the Bargari sacrilege incident took place, bullets were fired at the Sangat demanding justice at the behest of the Akali-BJP government, was it not an attack on the panth? Why did the Shiromani Committee not call this meeting then?

In Delhi, the BJP takes over the Delhi Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, in Haryana a separate Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has been formed, but the Shiromani Committee did nothing about it. But when it comes to the rights of Gurbani broadcasting Dhami Saab is presenting it as a panthic issue.

Kang said that Bhagwant Mann took this decision according to the sentiments of Sikh Sangats living in every corner of the country and the world. But those who call themselves the representatives of Sikhs, should also recognize their responsibility and should not limit the great Shiromani Committee, which is full of glorious history of sacrifices, to save the politics of a single family.