Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced on Sunday that the state would alter the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, to eliminate the need for a tender moving forward and to make Gurbani broadcasts from the Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar free for everyone.
The resolution will be presented to the Assembly on June 20 during the special session by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-run state administration.
We're going to make a historic decision tomorrow, with God's help. The transmission of Gurbani from Harimandar Sahib will be free for all...no tender required. Tomorrow in the cabinet. On June 20, the resolution will come before the Vidhan Sabha', Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann tweeted. "According to the demand of all the devotees, we are adding a new clause in the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925.
Meanwhile, BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal opposed the announcement calling it an interference in religious matters of Sikhism.
As soon as Mann made this declaration, the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal slammed him for attempting to interfere with the Sikh Gurudwara Act 1925.
Bhagwant Mann seeks to challenge the authority of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), as per a tweet from the BJP's national spokesperson RP Singh. The Sikh Gurdwara Act of 1925 can only be altered by the Indian Parliament, hence any amendment to it will not be regarded as legitimate or proper in any way.
"I have always felt that everyone should be able to hear Gurbani from Sri Darbar Sahib, and that it should be transmitted to every family. Bhagwant Mann, the chief minister of Punjab, is attempting to undermine the authority of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, but he is unable to do so. It won't be seen in any manner as legitimate or appropriate. Only the Indian Parliament has the authority to change the All India Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925.
However, Shiromani Akali Dal politician and former Punjabi minister of education Daljeet Cheema questioned this choice as well. He referred to the choice as being unconstitutional and directly interfering with the Sikh community's religious practises.
"Honourable Chief Minister, your action is illegal and directly interferes with the Sikh community's religious practises. Parliament is in charge of the Sikh Gurdwara Act. By voting to make choices on the Guru Ghar under this Act of Parliament, the Sikh community has chosen the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Daljeet Cheema tweeted.
"Has the aforementioned committee adopted a resolution of this nature? Even the Parliament cannot modify this Act without it. Cheema continued on Twitter, "The Sikh community will never accept this anti-cult effort being done on Kejriwal's directives.
Slogans of 'Khalistan Zindabad' were raised in the Golden Temple!
