Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann mentioned that the state Cabinet authorised the proposal to amend the 1925 Sikh Gurdwara Act as a way to guarantee “free telecast rights” of Gurbani from the Golden Temple on Monday. The transfer has brought about outrage within the state and has led the Aam Aadmi Party-run authorities to face backlash from opposition events.

Mann has additionally mentioned that the Punjab authorities might be bringing an modification Bill within the state meeting relating to the matter.

As per an official assertion, Mann mentioned that the 2023 Sikh Gurdwara (Amendment) Act will ultimately led to elimination of the management the ‘modern-day masands’ have over free to air telecast of the sacred Gurbani. Mann added that the cupboard had authorised the insertion of Section 125 A within the Sikh Gurdwara Act and therefore the federal government might be casting responsibility on the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to make sure “free to air” dwell telecast of the holy Gurbani from the Golden Temple.

What is Gurbani?

Gurbani means Guru’s (trainer’s) phrase, which frequently is a sung message.

Gurbani is the sacred literature of Sikhism. It refers to assortment of a number of compositions by Sikh Gurus in addition to varied writers of Guru Granth Sahib. It is enshrined as hymns within the holy scripture.

What will change with new modification?

For years, a non-public news-cum-entertainment channel PTC community has had the broadcasting rights of Gurbani which takes place on the Sri Harmandar Sahib or the Golden Temple. Since 1998, the Golden Temple has been broadcasting Gurbani within the morning and the night.

The PTC community pays the SGPC ₹2 crores yearly for a similar, NDTV reported. SGPC administers the Golden Temple.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who has stakes in PTC, faces allegations of monopolising the Gurbani telecast, a cost he has refuted on a number of events.

The contract for Gurbani telecast is ending subsequent month and the SGPC is within the strategy of renewing it. Last month, the CM provided to pay all bills for Gurbani telecast throughout the channels freed from value. But SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami introduced to name tenders to allot telecast rights.

Mann has been a vocal critic of the SGPC chief for extending rights to a single channel and has additionally provided to pay the bills incurred in broadcasting the Gurbani throughout all channels freed from value.

SGPC opposes the transfer

Opposing the transfer, the SGPC mentioned the state authorities has no proper to make any modification within the Act.

SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami tweeted in Punjabi,“Chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann ji, don’t try to complicate religious affairs of the Sikhs. The governments have no right to interfere in Sikh affairs.”

“You are talking about adding a new section to the Sikh Gurdwaras Act by amending it. But it can only be done by the Centre and that too on the recommendation of the SGPC, a body elected by the Sikhs,” he added. Maryada (Sikh code of conduct) is paramount within the telecast of Gurbani, the SGPC chief mentioned.

Opposition events react to the transfer

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has additionally taken strong exception to the government’s move. “Amending the Sikh Gurdwaras Act of 1925 is unconstitutional as it has been enacted by Parliament,” mentioned SAD spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema, alleging that the federal government was interfering in Sikhs’ non secular issues.

“The decision taken on the directions of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal will not be tolerated by the Sikhs,” he added.

Lauding the CM’s transfer, Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu tweeted: “Sarb Sanjhi Gurbaani… means for one and all with no discrimination …this was a cherished desires of millions of Sikhs across the globe, including me… commendable effort @BhagwantMann …Kudos.”.

Congress chief Sukhpal Khaira lashed out at CM Mann and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal. “What a sad day for Sikhs as a government of @BhagwantMann consisting of no Amritdhari Sikh (Baptized) and run from Delhi by leaders like @ArvindKejriwal who himself claims to be an ardent follower of RSS ideology will now decide the fate of a martial community of Sikhs and their religious affairs (Sikh Gurudwara Act 1925) that our forefathers achieved after immense bloodshed and glorious sacrifices! I hope sense prevails on this breed of fake revolutionaries,” Khaira tweeted.