Latest news with #ShiromaniGurdwaraParbandhakCommittee
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SGPC urges Centre to ensure safety of gurdwaras, saroops in Iran, Israel
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami on Thursday urged the Government of India to immediately take appropriate steps to ensure the safety of gurdwaras and the sacred saroops (scriptures) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in Iran and Israel in view of the ongoing war between the two countries in West Asia. In a statement, Dhami said Sri Guru Granth Sahib holds the highest reverence for the Sikh community and ensuring the respect and protection is of utmost importance. He said due to the current volatile conditions in Iran and Israel, it is the responsibility of the government to ensure the safety of gurdwaras and sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib there. He said that the Centre must use its diplomatic relations and international platforms to engage with the governments of Iran and Israel to ensure that no harm comes to the gurdwaras or the saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, and their sanctity is fully preserved. Dhami appealed to Sikhs in Iran and Israel to remain in touch with the local authorities to help protect the gurdwaras and saroops. He said that the SGPC is monitoring the situation closely and expects the Government of India to act promptly and sensitively on this issue.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
SGPC urges Centre to ensure safety of gurdwaras, sacred Saroops in Iran, Israel
Amid the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Thursday urged the Central Government to take urgent diplomatic measures to safeguard gurdwaras and Saroops, the sacred scriptures of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, located in the warring countries. In a statement issued in Amritsar, its SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, 'Sri Guru Granth Sahib holds the highest reverence for the Sikh community. Ensuring their respect and protection is of utmost importance.' 'The Government of India must engage with the governments of Iran and Israel to ensure that no harm comes to the gurdwaras or the Saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, and that their sanctity is fully preserved. It is the responsibility of governments of both countries to ensure the safety of gurdwaras and the sacred Saroops there,' he stated. He also appealed to the Sikhs living in Iran and Israel to remain in contact with local authorities and officials concerned to ensure the protection of the gurdwaras and the Saroops. Dhami has asked the Indian government to use international platforms to communicate with authorities in Iran and Israel. The SGPC chief said the current conditions in Iran and Israel require urgent diplomatic intervention. He noted that the committee is monitoring the developments in Iran and Israel and expects the Government of India to act promptly and sensitively on this critical issue.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Takht ex-jathedar alleges illegal selling of Tarn Taran gurdwara's land; SGPC rubbishes allegations
Akal Takht former jathedar Ranjit Singh on Wednesday accused the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) of committing misappropriation in the sale of Tarn Taran historic Sikh shrine's land worth crores of rupees. While addressing a press conference here, he alleged that this property was donated by the devotees to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Tarn Taran, but SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, along with member Alwinderpal Singh Pakhoke, is selling it off to their favoured individuals at throwaway prices. Speaking to journalists, Ranjit Singh said the property adjoining the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at Tarn Taran Sahib is worth crores. He claimed that attempts have been made to sell this property 40 times before, but the bids were always cancelled. 'This time, however, without any public bidding process, Dhami and the Badal group are selling the property to their close associates at extremely low prices,' he said. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) refuted the allegations made by the former jathedar regarding the alleged sale of certain plots belonging to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at undervalued prices. SGPC secretary Pratap Singh and assistant secretary Gurnam Singh, clarified that the land in question was not in use by the Gurdwara Sahib and had been facing frequent encroachments. Based on the recommendations of the SGPC's Property Sub-Committee, the executive committee took the decision to sell the land. They stated that the SGPC sold the land through a proper open bidding process after issuing public advertisements.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Murder, morality, and free speech: A killing that split public conscience
The justification of social media influencer Kamal Kaur alias Kanchan Kumari's murder by Sri Akal Takht Sahib head priest Malkit Singh has raised a troubling question: is society willing to risk freedom of speech and expression in favour of moral policing? Harjeshwar Pal Singh, assistant professor of history at SGGS College, Chandigarh, said the murder, allegedly committed by Amritpal Singh Mehron and his associates, was not just a criminal act but also 'an assault on freedom of speech.' 'No one in a society has the business to dictate what others should wear, eat, think, or how they should behave—and no one has the right to take another person's life for their views or lifestyle. It is unjustifiable and barbaric,' he said. He added that the widespread online support for such acts reveals deepening polarisation and radicalisation in society. 'There are enough laws around 'indecency' and 'outraging public morality' that can be updated to include social media. The problem is these laws are often applied selectively, usually by the state to serve its own political purposes. Giving the state more such powers only strengthens its hand against the individual,' he said. Kiranjot Kaur, member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, said the Akal Takht head priest should have avoided making any remarks at all. 'But also, if anything posted on social media falls under freedom of speech, then why do we have a censor board? If the concern is that governments might use social media restrictions to silence criticism, that's already happening. Most mainstream media is toeing the government line.' Social and environmental activist Gangveer Rathour also condemned the murder but questioned the inconsistency in how freedom of speech is applied. 'In 2022, Punjab Police booked an 11-year-old after his father posted a photo of him with a licensed weapon. If vulgar content is protected under free speech, why doesn't the same logic apply to that image? You can't show weapons, but you can show bodies? It's a delusion to think that restricting vulgar content will somehow empower the government to stifle dissent—it already does that regardless.' Writer and director Pali Bhupinder Singh said, 'What the law doesn't prohibit falls within the scope of freedom of speech and expression. Even the censor board functions mostly to suppress critical voices—just look at the movie Punjab 95. It didn't block vulgar content, but it did block dissent. Censorship is always a tool of control.' He added, 'People argue that mobile phones are in children's hands, so content should be censored. But the question is, why are children on phones unsupervised in the first place? And even if they are, who is responsible for teaching them how to use them? Moral policing—especially when done violently or by those misusing religious identity—is indefensible.' Film and media critic Harpreet Singh said the murder was 'a shock to a civilised society' and pointed out that it has only intensified a pre-existing ideological divide. 'Kanchan Kumari made low-quality videos, yes, but there was clearly an audience for them. And while her murder can never be justified, the debate that followed has not been a debate at all—it has become a contest of entrenched opinions, motivated by hate, outrage, or ideological agendas,' he said. He traced the trajectory of vulgarity in popular culture to mainstream media. 'B-grade cinema was once the domain of sleaze. But when Sunny Leone entered the family space via Bigg Boss, it quietly normalised sexual content. With smartphones and 4G, that boundary blurred further. Today, people from ordinary households create reels with similar themes. It's not just celebrities anymore—it's everyday content creators.' 'Between society, family, and discipline lies a delicate code that balances law, morality, and freedom of expression. But neither side is truly ready for an honest conversation—neither those who demand complete freedom, nor those who call for limits and censorship.' Closing the debate, Punjab State Women's Commission Chairperson Raj Lali Gill said the Commission, in coordination with legal experts, will take strict action against those producing and circulating such material. 'The increasing use of vulgar language and explicit content on social media is having a harmful impact on children and society at large,' she said. 'We cannot allow the misuse of freedom of expression to promote obscenity. Those who are creating and profiting from such content will be dealt with under relevant sections of the IT Act.' Gill added that freedom of speech must be exercised responsibly and within the bounds of social and legal norms. 'Both girls and boys should refrain from engaging in or encouraging objectionable content online,' she said.
India Gazette
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
No Sikh group to Pakistan for Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Death Anniversary this year: SGPC
Amritsar (Punjab) [India], June 17 (ANI): Stressing the current situation between India and Pakistan, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) announced on Tuesday that no Sikh pilgrim group will travel to the neighbouring country this year to observe Maharaja Ranjit Singh's death anniversary. Speaking to ANI, SGPC official Harbhajan Singh Vakta said the decision was made due to the current diplomatic situation between India and Pakistan, following the April 22 Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, conducted by the Indian Armed Forces on May 7. 'Every year, the SGPC sends a group of Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan for religious visits. One of these visits is for Maharaja Ranjit Singh's death anniversary, which is observed there on June 29. This year, we sent a batch of passports to Delhi for clearance to go to Pakistan. But now, SGPC has decided not to send the group. Our secretary officially announced this decision yesterday. Due to the current situation between the two countries, the group will not be sent this time,' Vakta said. 'We had sent 249 passport applications to Pakistan for this visit. Since the trip is now cancelled, these passports will be returned after June 20. People can collect their passports from our travel department after that date,' Vakta said. Last year, Pakistan issued 509 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to attend the Maharaja Ranjeet Singh's death anniversary. Led by interim committee member Khushvinder Singh Bhatia, the delegation, comprised of 317 pilgrims, was sent for this spiritual voyage. In addition to Sikh pilgrims from all over the world, including India, tourists from other countries visit Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib. Maharaja Ranjeet Singh was the first king of the Sikh Empire in the 19th century. He is popularly known as 'Sher-e-Punjab.' Maharaja Ranjit Singh was born on November 13, 1780, in Budrukhan, or Gujranwala (now in Pakistan), and died on June 27, 1839, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). According to Sikh beliefs, he ruled Punjab for 40 years. It is said that Maharaja Ranjit Singh fought against the Mughals and also conquered Lahore. Also, religious tolerance was promoted during his time, as many important ministers of his were Muslims. (ANI)
