SGPC, govt lock horns over holding separate events to mark 350th martyrdom day of Guru Teg Bahadur Ji
SGPC raised objections with President Harjinder Singh Dhami asserting that only the Sikh body is 'entitled to organise such historic events' with the support of the community.
PTC News Desk: The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee on Tuesday objected to the state government's decision to hold separate religious events to commemorate 350th martyrdom day of Guru Teg Bahadur Ji, calling it an grave interference in religious affairs.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann while chairing a meeting to review the arrangements said on Monday that a series of grand and historic events will be organised to with great significance. Meanwhile SGPC raised objections with President Harjinder Singh Dhami asserting that only the Sikh body is 'entitled to organise such historic events' with the support of the community.
Slamming the government, Dhami alleged that the Bhagwant Mann-led government was "interfering in the jurisdiction of Panthic institutions".
“The SGPC is already leading the centenary commemorations with participation from all Sikh sects and institutions. The government’s unilateral announcement of separate events is disrespectful and an attempt to sideline Sikh institutions,” said Dhami.
Dhami said the SGPC had already planned a series of events beginning April from Gurdwara Guru ke Mahal, the birthplace of the Ninth Sikh Guru in Amritsar.
“Since then, programmes have been organised across the country,” Dhami said, adding that separate events — overlapping with those planned by the SGPC at Anandpur Sahib — would create confusion and go against long-standing traditions of the Khalsa Panth.
The SGPC also condemned the ruling government for ignoring the ignoring several major Sikh centenaries during its tenure such as the centenaries of the Guru Ka Bagh Morcha, Saka Sri Panja Sahib, and the 200th martyrdom anniversary of Akali Baba Phoola Singh, as well as the 450th Jyoti Jot Diwas of Guru Amar Das.