Bureau
Amritsar: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has announced to support the struggle of Olympian wrestlers sitting on protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Talking to the media after the SGPC’s executive committee (EC) meeting held here, SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami said that on one hand the governments talk about uplifting the girl child, while on the other hand, the Olympian girls who brighten the country’s name are struggling for justice at the doors of Centre government. He said that this matter is related to the honour and dignity of girls, towards which the government should show seriousness and take strict action against the accused person. Harjinder Singh Dhami said that the Sikh community supports these struggling sportswomen representing its history, customs, and traditions. Soon a delegation will be sent to Delhi by SGPC to meet these players, he said.
The SGPC president told about other decisions of the meeting that those who run anti-Sikh narratives and hate on social media will not be spared anymore. He said that the EC has decided to take legal action considering the seriousness of this matter. Harjinder Singh Dhami said that many social media platforms and accounts are continuously spreading false and hateful propaganda against Sikhs, on which governments are not cracking down. By identifying many such accounts, the SGPC has also filed complaints to the police administration. The SGPC President said that now this matter will be taken up with the Government of India along with the evidence and if no action is taken then the matter will be taken to the court.
Harjinder Singh Dhami also sharply criticized the carelessness of the government on the incidents of beadbi (sacrilege) and violation of maryada (conduct) of Gurdwara Sahibs in Punjab. He said that it is a matter of concern that the courage of those who play with religious sentiments in Punjab is constantly increasing. The Punjab government is not taking it seriously. He said that the SGPC EC expressed deep concern over this issue and decided to take up the matter with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. He also said that strict laws should be constituted against those who hurt religious sentiments and exemplary punishment should be given to them in time. He also appealed to the Gurdwara management committees and Sangat to ensure vigilance inside the Gurdwaras at all times.
SGPC President said that the SGPC has formed committees regarding the ongoing matters of Gurdwara Guru Dongmar Sahib, Sikkim and Gurdwara Tapasthan Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Mechuka, Arunachal Pradesh, which will soon hold discussion with the concerned governments. He also told that both these cases are related to Buddhists, so the delegation will also meet the Dalai Lama. Talking about the release of the Bandi Singhs (Sikh prisoners), he said that the SGPC has filled about 26 lakh proformas which will soon be sent to the President of India through the Governor of Punjab. He also informed that time has been sought for the meeting with the President of India to discuss issues pertaining to the Sikh community. The SGPC President said that in view of the explosions near Sri Darbar Sahib in the past, necessary steps have been taken for security and a process is being adopted to make other necessary arrangements.
As per SGPC President, the EC has also passed a condolence resolution and paid tributes over the demise of the patron of Shiromani Akali Dal and former chief of S. Parkash Singh Badal. He said that S. Badal's great services to Punjab and Panth cannot be forgotten.
Those present in the meeting included SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami, senior vice president of SGPC Baldev Singh Qaimpur, junior vice president Avtar Singh Raya, general secretary Bhai Gurcharan Singh Grewal, SGPC EC member Mohan Singh Bangi, Jarnail Singh Kartarpur, Surjit Singh Tughalwal, Bawa Singh Gumanpura, Bibi Gurinder Kaur Bholuwala, Gurnam Singh Jassal, Baba Gurpreet Singh Randhawa, Bhupinder Singh Assandh and Malkit Singh Changal, SGPC secretary Partap Singh, OSD Satbir Singh Dhami, additional secretary Sukhminder Singh, Kulwinder Singh Ramdas, Gurinder Singh Mathrewal, Simarjit Singh, assistant secretary Gurcharan Singh Kuhala, superintendent Malkit Singh Beharwal, in-charge Gurnam Singh, Balwinder Singh Khairabad, Tarsem Singh Gill, Gurpratap Singh Masanian, XeN Jatinderpal Singh, Sukhjinder Singh, and others.
*****