AMRITSAR: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami said that open tenders will soon be called for Gurbani broadcast from Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib. He said that a five-member committee has been formed for this task, which will decide the terms and conditions. The SGPC President that unnecessary controversy is being deliberately created by some people regarding the Gurbani broadcast and it is sad that the Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab Bhagwant Singh Mann is also a participant in it.
Harjinder Singh Dhami said that as per the rules, since 1998, the SGPC had given the rights to broadcast Gurbani from Sri Harmandar Sahib to various channels, under which the current agreement with G-Next Media Private Limited (PTC Channel) is up to July 2023. This last agreement was signed on July 24, 2012, for 11 years and now, after its expiration, a fresh process will be carried forward. He also said that under the ongoing agreement, G-Next Media had decided to give Rs 1 crore annually (with a 10% annual increase) to the education fund of SGPC, according to which all the due amount has been deposited so far.
He said that a Maryada (conduct) is mandatory for the broadcasting of Gurbani, due to which everyone cannot be given the freedom to broadcast it.
“Whoever gets the right to broadcast Gurbani will have to respect the religious sentiments of the Sangat (community + pilgrims) besides following the norms and rules laid by the SGPC. Worldwide broadcasting of Gurbani should also be ensured. On the other hand, if open broadcast of Gurbani is allowed, many cases will arise against the Maryada, especially the controversy regarding advertising”, said Harjinder Singh Dhami.
He said that the SGPC is very serious about Gurbani broadcasting, while Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann is doing politics on this subject.
“Bhagwant Singh Mann sometimes asks the Sangat to stop putting money in Golaks (offering boxes at Gurdwaras) and sometimes tries to create confusion regarding the issue of Gurbani broadcast. It does not suit the person holding the responsible position of the Chief Minister”, said Harjinder Singh Dhami.
In response to Bhagwant Singh Mann’s comments about him, the SGPC president said that if the Chief Minister can tell that he is not a parrot of Delhi?
“Bhagwant Singh Mann does not know the history of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the SGPC”, he said.
Reminding Mann about the history, SGPC President said that Master Tara Singh remained President of SAD as well as the SGPC. Moreover, Mohan Singh Nagoke and Mohan Singh Tur simultaneously remained Presidents of SAD as well as Jathedars of Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
“The Chief Minister is making absurd statements because he lacks knowledge about the Sikh principles of Miri Piri (Sikh doctrine of a close relationship between devotion and power)”, said Harjinder Singh Dhami. The SGPC President advised Punjab CM to pay attention to the government’s work and speak within his limitations.
On this occasion, SGPC General Secretary Bhai Gurcharan Singh Grewal, members Bhai Rajinder Singh Mehta, Harjap Singh Sultanwind, and Gurpreet Singh Jhabbar, SGPC secretary Partap Singh, OSD Satbir Singh Dhami, additional secretaries Balwinder Singh Kahlwan and Gurinder Singh Mathrewal, manager Satnam Singh Mangasarai, assistant secretaries Shahbaz Singh and Jaswinder Singh Jassi were present.