Guru Teg Bahadur Jis 350th martyrdom: PU denies permission to hold seminar, claims student body; SGPC flays refusal
While describing the incident as deeply unfortunate, Advocate Dhami said that that preventing a seminar dedicated to the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji is an anti-Sikh act and a direct attack on freedom of expression.
PTC News Desk: Uncertainty prevails over holding a special seminar to commemorate Guru Teg Bahadur’s 350th martyrdom at Panjab University. While the students have claimed that the university denied permission, the university has maintained that the procedure seeking approval was not followed.
The university authorities, meanwhile, said the organisers had been told to submit the necessary documents and no “refusal” had been given on record by any university officials.
“As per the rules, if a person is invited to any seminar his/her CV gets attached with the request, citing his/her contribution towards the topic. It has been cross-checked with the office of the university registrar and no refusal has been issued. However, the documentation is needed to be completed as per the rules,” said a university official.
However Sath Party and PU Campus Students Council (PUCSC) vice-president Ashmeet Singh circulated the invites for the seminar after alleged refusal from the authorities, setting Student Centre as the venue.
Meanwhile, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami has strongly condemned Punjab University, Chandigarh, for allegedly stopping a student organisation from holding a seminar on campus.
While describing the incident as deeply unfortunate, Advocate Dhami said that that preventing a seminar dedicated to the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji is an anti-Sikh act and a direct attack on freedom of expression.
Dhami added that while the Sikh community across the world is observing the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, various organisations are expressing their reverence by organising events and seminars. Instead of facilitating such efforts, the university administration is, regrettably, preventing Sikh groups from paying homage to the Guru.
He said the university’s decision to cancel the seminar, citing objections to Sikh scholars, reflects a biased and unreasonable approach and has caused emotional distress to the Sikh community.
Ashmeet Singh, a member of Sath Party has alleged that the refusal of permission by the authorities is in regard with the list of speakers that includes Sikh activist Ajmer Singh and slain human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra’s brother Amarjit Singh Khalra.
He alsoa lleged that the permission was denied due to the growing influence of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) within PU.
Anandpur Sahib MP and former PUCSC president Malvinder Singh Kang also wrote to vice-chancellor Renu Vig regarding the seminar.
“It is with dismay that I note the administration’s decision to withhold approval for this seminar, citing alleged concerns about the participation of Ajmer Singh, a respected Sikh political analyst and scholar of international repute. The stated rationale that Singh is a controversial figure due to his past lacks both merit and substance,” he wrote.