Punjab Govt's Move To Ensure 'Free Telecast Of Gurbani' Sparks Row; SGPC Says Don't Interfere In Religious Matters

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann says that Gurbani is everyone's right and it should be telecast free of cost.

Chandigarh: The AAP-led Punjab government's move to amend the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925 to ensure ''free telecast rights of Gurbani'' from the Golden Temple has triggered a massive row. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the apex religious body for Sikhs, has reacted sharply to the move, asking the government ''not to interfere in religious matters.''

In an official statement, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the agenda for the resolution will be cleared at a Cabinet meeting slated for Monday. He said the resolution will be tabled in the Assembly during the special session on June 20. "In a historic decision aimed at ensuring the free-to-air telecast of sacred Gurbani from Sri Harmandar Sahib, Amritsar, the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will amend the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925," the statement said. CM Mann claimed that the decision is in consonance with the feelings of the 'Sikh Sangat across the globe.

In a historic decision aimed at ensuring free to air telecast of sacred Gurbani from Sri Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar, Punjab Govt led by CM @BhagwantMann will amend Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925. CM said that agenda for this resolution will be cleared by Cabinet meeting on June 19. (1/2) — CMO Punjab (@CMOPb) June 18, 2023

The Chief Minister described it as the need of the hour to disseminate the 'Sarb Sanji Gurbani' across the globe with the aim of spreading the universal message of 'welfare of all'. Mann said Gurbani should be telecast free of cost rather than confining it to a single channel. He said the move will go a long way in offering an opportunity to the 'Sangat' to listen to Gurbani while sitting at home, even in foreign countries.

CM said that later on resolution will be tabled in Vidhan Sabha during its special session scheduled to be held on June 20. CM described it as need of hour to disseminate ‘Sarb Sanjhi Gurbani’ across the globe with an aim to spread universal message of ‘Sarbat da Bhala’. (2/2) — CMO Punjab (@CMOPb) June 18, 2023

The Chief Minister said it will also allow people to get a glimpse of the Sri Harmandar Sahib on their TVs and other electronic gadgets. 

SGPC Opposes Move

Reacting to the decision, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief H S Dhami said the Punjab government should not interfere in the religious matters of Sikhs and that it has no right to amend the Sikh Gurdwara Act, of 1925.

ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ @BhagwantMann ਜੀ, ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਦੇ ਧਾਰਮਿਕ ਮਾਮਲਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਉਲਝਾਉਣ ਦੀ ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼ ਨਾ ਕਰੋ। ਸਿੱਖੀ ਦੇ ਮਾਮਲੇ ਸੰਗਤ ਦੀ ਭਾਵਨਾਵਾਂ ਤੇ ਸਰੋਕਾਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਸਬੰਧਤ ਹਨ, ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ 'ਚ ਸਰਕਾਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਿੱਧੇ ਤੌਰ 'ਤੇ ਦਖ਼ਲ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਕੋਈ ਹੱਕ ਨਹੀਂ। ਤੁਸੀਂ ਸਿੱਖ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਐਕਟ 1925 'ਚ ਸੋਧ ਕਰਕੇ ਨਵੀਂ ਧਾਰਾ ਜੋੜਨ ਦੀ ਗੱਲ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ, + pic.twitter.com/pAMLpuHTXW — Harjinder Singh Dhami (@SGPCPresident) June 18, 2023

Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira argued that the state cannot make any changes to the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, as it is "Central".

As far as my knowledge goes Punjab government cannot tinker or amend or add to the existing Sikh Gurudwara Act 1925 as its a central act! I wonder how @BhagwantMann is speaking to add a clause in the said Act! Yes the Vidhan Sabha can pass a resolution and send it to Center for… pic.twitter.com/RzcJEQUThe — Sukhpal Singh Khaira (@SukhpalKhaira) June 18, 2023

However, Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu welcomed the move. “Sarb Sanjhi Gurbaani” …….. means for one and all with no discrimination ………… this was a cherished desire of millions of Sikhs across the globe including me……… commendable effort @BhagwantMann ……… Kudos !!'' he tweeted.

It is not the first time Mann has referred to the issue of the telecast of Gurbani. Last year too, he had urged the SGPC to allow the telecast of the Golden Temple Gurbani on other channels. Currently, the sacred hymn is being telecast by a private TV channel.