AMRITSAR: Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, has expressed strong objection to the Punjab government's announcement to hold a separate function at the government level on the occasion of the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji.
Reacting strongly to the statement of the Punjab government ministers to celebrate the centenary celebrations separately from the national institution.
Advocate Dhami said that being the apex religious institution of the Sikh community, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee is the only one entitled to organize the historical centenary celebrations with the support of Sikh organizations and Sangat.
He said that the main job of the governments is to make arrangements for the convenience of the Sangat, not to interfere in religious matters. From a religious point of view, only those institutions can organize such events which deeply understand the Sikh etiquette and historical sensitivity.
He said that in the past, events on important occasions in Sikh history have always been held under the leadership of the Shiromani Committee, while governments have only provided administrative support.
Advocate Dhami said that the then Akali government of Punjab has set an example for governments by providing administrative support on every centenary occasion. Similarly, when the 350th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji was celebrated, the Bihar government provided full support in all the arrangements. On the occasion of such centenaries, the governments prepared the necessary infrastructure for the accommodation of the congregation, but the religious responsibility of the events was carried out by religious institutions.