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Time of India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Act immediately to retrieve Guru Granth Sahib 'saroops' from Iran: NAPA urges SGPC
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The North American Punjabi Association on Friday appealed to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and the broader Panthic leadership to safeguard the sacred 'saroops' of the Guru Granth Sahib kept at a gurdwara in war-hit Iran's Singh Chahal, the executive director of the association, urged the SGPC to immediately arrange a chartered aircraft and deploy a group of five dedicated Sikhs to accompany the 'saroops' (physical copy of Guru Granth Sahib) back home with full to SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami appealing to the Union government to arrange for the transportation of the 'saroops' to India, Chahal said the gurdwara management body has the resources and moral responsibility to act independently in the matter."This is not the time to rely solely on appeals to the Union government. Time is of the essence, and any delay could lead to irreparable consequences."We cannot afford to wait for bureaucratic processes. The safety and sanctity of Guru Granth Sahib Ji's saroops must be our top priority," Chahal the urgency of the matter, especially amid the escalating conflict in the region, Chahal warned that relying on the central government's decision-making could result in dangerous delays."The SGPC has the resources and moral responsibility to act independently in this religious matter," he said.
New Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
NAPA urges SGPC to act immediately to retrieve Guru Granth Sahib 'saroops' from war-torn Iran
CHANDIGARH: The North American Punjabi Association on Friday appealed to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and the broader Panthic leadership to safeguard the sacred 'saroops' of the Guru Granth Sahib kept at a gurdwara in war-hit Iran's Tehran. Satnam Singh Chahal, the executive director of the association, urged the SGPC to immediately arrange a chartered aircraft and deploy a group of five dedicated Sikhs to accompany the 'saroops' (physical copy of Guru Granth Sahib) back home with full respect. Reacting to SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami appealing to the Union government to arrange for the transportation of the 'saroops' to India, Chahal said the gurdwara management body has the resources and moral responsibility to act independently in the matter. "This is not the time to rely solely on appeals to the Union government. Time is of the essence, and any delay could lead to irreparable consequences. We cannot afford to wait for bureaucratic processes. The safety and sanctity of Guru Granth Sahib Ji's saroops must be our top priority," Chahal said. Highlighting the urgency of the matter, especially amid the escalating conflict in the region, Chahal warned that relying on the central government's decision-making could result in dangerous delays. "The SGPC has the resources and moral responsibility to act independently in this religious matter," he said.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Akali leader Bikram Majithia challenges Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann to show one picture of any industrial plant inaugurated by him in 3 years.
Ludhiana: Senior (SAD) member Bikram Singh Majithia asserted on Wednesday that all new investment in Punjab had ceased under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) govt, with existing industries struggling against extortion threats and a lack of incentives. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Speaking to reporters, he challenged chief minister openly to produce evidence of any new industrial plant that he had inaugurated in the last three years of tenure. Majithia said: "He should also tell Punjabis why his govt took three-years-and-a-half to make a new industrial policy and why he was unable to protect industrialists from extortions and targeted killings." Majithia also appealed to Punjabis and estranged Akali leaders to support the SAD to strengthen what he termed "Panthic unity". "All those who want to strengthen Panthic unity should extend their support to the SAD," he urged. "Our party is committed to safeguarding the aspirations of Punjabis and ensuring their word is heard at the Centre." Sukhbir credited for infra The former SAD minister also took the opportunity to remind AAP candidate Sanjeev Arora that he, along with a prominet industrialist, had approached Sukhbir Singh Badal in his previous term as deputy chief minister to request an airport for Ludhiana. Majithia credited Sukhbir as the "architect" of the airport and expressways idea in Punjab, also noting that the elevated road in Ludhiana and the Southern Bypass had come up under Sukhbir's leadership. Highlighting the upcoming Ludhiana West byelection, Majithia endorsed SAD's candidate, Parupkar Singh Ghuman, describing him as "by far the best choice". Majithia praised Ghuman for his "fight for human rights" as an advocate, an "absolutely clean record", and his work as a "social worker". He urged the public to vote for the SAD, reiterating the party's promise to prevent the govt from "acquiring 24,000 acres of fertile land forcibly at any cost". MSID:: 121781914 413 |
Indian Express
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Dhumma has his way: Jathedar skips annual message
In a break from a 40-year-old tradition, Akal Takht's acting Jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargajj did not deliver the annual customary message to the community on Operation Blue Star anniversary, to avoid any controversy with Panthic bodies. Gargajj, however he preformed the 'ardas' (prayer according to Sikh rituals) to mark the event. Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhumma had earlier opposed Gargajj's appointment as the acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht saying it was in violation of 'maryada' and 'panthic traditions'. During the ardas, the Jathedar said this pious spiritual place (Golden Temple and Akal Takht) should never be a place of turmoil as everybody wants peace here. He also raised several issues, including the 'targeting of Sikhs in India and abroad,' the concept of a 'Sikh homeland,' and 'discrimination against Sikhs.' Gargajj prayed for strength, unity, harmony, and togetherness within the Khalsa Panth and sought blessings for the community to follow in the footsteps of the community's warriors and martyrs. Speaking to the media later, Gargajj expressed strong objection to 'the planned events being held in Batala city under the name 'crusade', in the context of religious conversions'. He said, 'Punjab is the land sanctified by the Sikh Gurus, and seeds of hatred must not be sown here. There is the need for the Sikh community to respond to this issue with compassion and to embrace those who have drifted toward other faiths.' Earlier, Harjinder Singh Dhami, president of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), honoured the family members of the Sikhs who were killed along with Jarnail singh Bhindranwale in the Golden Temple complex during the Army action in June 1984. According to tradition, it was the Akal Takht Jathedar who every year honours the families of those who were killed in the Army action. According to sources, it was decided in a series of meetings Jathedar Gargajj would neither deliver the annual message nor offer the siropa (robe of honour) to the families of those who died in 1984. When asked if he has scored a victory by not allowing Gargajj to issue message to the community, Dhuma said that he was not in favor of making such claims because that would be a form of arrogance, which is not acceptable in the Guru's house. He added that in the near future, all Panthic organisations will sit together and deliberate on the process of appointing Jathedars. He said that if the SGPC appoints the Jathedars of the Takhts with the consensus of all Sikh organisations, then there will be no dispute. Disputes arise only when the Panth is not taken into confidence, he said. It is not first time that Jathedar has faced the opposition. It was, however, the first time when SGPC was not seen standing with the Jathedar. Former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh too had faced huge opposition from the community after he issued pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in 2015. SGPC made sure that he was allowed to issue his annual message on the occasions of Diwali and Operation Blue Star anniversaries. Gurbachan Singh resigned in 2018 and was replaced by the Giani Harpreet Singh, who gained the confidence of community. Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann heaped praise on Gargajj said, saying that despite the restrictions, the Jathedar 'conveyed his message emphasising the need for a Sikh homeland and raising concerns over the ongoing massacre of Sikhs abroad'. Mann also condemned the 'forces' that barred Jathedar from delivering his annual message.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Damdami Taksal pushes for panth-wide consensus for jathedar appointments to avoid controversies
Amritsar: After successfully pressuring the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to withhold officiating Akal Takhr jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj from delivering a message during the Operation Bluestar anniversary ceremony over objections to his controversial appointment, Damdami Taksal (Chowk Mehta) has announced plans to push for a formal 'panth parvanat' procedure for selecting jathedars. Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa, chief of Damdami Taksal, said the appointment of jathedars should involve consultation with all Sikh sects, Nihang organisations, Singh Sabhas, federations, and other Sikh bodies to prevent disputes. He added that he intends to engage with all Panthic organisations soon to discuss a unified selection process. "It is only when decisions are made without Panthic consensus that controversies arise," Baba Harnam Singh said, emphasising that collective approval from the Sikh Panth would eliminate future conflicts. He further stressed that retirement or removal of jathedars should also be conducted with due respect and dignity, calling for lasting solutions to the recurring issues surrounding these appointments. Baba Harnam Singh urged the SGPC to ensure broad-based agreement among Sikh organisations for all future appointments. Addressing the demand that the officiating jathedar should not deliver the customary address or honour the martyrs, he declined to claim this as a victory, saying such an attitude would reflect ego, which is unacceptable in the house of the Guru. Noting the significance of this year's ceremony, he said, "Since June 1984, this is the first time the Panth conducted the martyrdom ceremony with great peace, goodwill, and unity—without the brandishing of swords." He also praised SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami for his wisdom, patience, and foresight in preventing conflict during the event. "There should be no internal clashes within the Panth while commemorating the martyrs. Today, a message was sent across the world that the entire Sikh Panth peacefully and respectfully remembered the martyrs of June 1984 at Akal Takht," Baba Harnam Singh concluded. MSID:: 121674565 413 | Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
