Guru Nanak anniv: SGPC to hold main event, says Takht
AMRITSAR: Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, on Monday made it clear that the function being organised by the SGPC at Sultanpur Lodhi on November 11 and 12 to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak would be main event and will be attended by the Prime Minister, the President and other dignitaries.
The announcement comes nearly a week after the state government, in a bid to break the deadlock over the joint event, had put the ball in the Takht’s court and offered its pandal (venue) to hold the function.
To take the final call, acting Takht jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh called a meeting of the five Sikh high priests who met in the presence of SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal.
In the ‘gurmata’ (resolution as per the Sikh tenets) passed during the meet, the Sikh clergy ordered that the main stage will be set up by the SGPC. “After discussing the matter with Sikh organisations and intellectuals, we have found that all centenary functions were being organised by the management of the respective historic gurdwaras. At Sultanpur Lodhi, the historic Gurdwara Ber Sahib is managed by the SGPC. So, the SGPC is directed to set up main stage with the cooperation of the sangat”, said the jathedar.
“The SGPC will be responsible for the arrangements of the functions and give due honour to representatives of all the organisations and parties attending the functions,” he added.
The main function will be supervised by Akal Takht acting jathedar. “Only the President (Ram Nath Kovind), PM (Narendra Modi), ex-PM ( Manmohban
Singh), CM (Capt Amarinder Singh), ex-CM (Parkash Singh Badal) and SGPC chief (Longowal)will be made to sit on the stage apart from religious personalities. These dignitaries will also be allowed to address the function”, said Giani Harpreet Singh who will deliver ‘quam de naam sandesh’ (message to community). The stage will be conducted by any of the Sikh scholars, as per the ‘gurmata’. “No other person or any politician will be allowed to get on the stage”, he said, replying to query during interaction with the media later.
Speaking on the pandal that has already been set up by the Punjab government, the Akal Takht head said there is no ban on holding functions by other organisations separately and the stage set up by the government can be used for spreading the teachings of Guru Nanak. “Punjab government or other bodies can organise their separate functions but only religious discourse must be held there”, he added.
ONLY PM, PREZ, EX-PM, CM, EX-CM TO BE ALLOWED ON STAGE; AKAL TAKHT SAYS GOVT CAN HOLD SEPARATE FUNCTION BUT SANS POLITICAL DISCOURSE
Punjab cabinet minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said the state government will abide by the Takht directions.
“We will obey the order of the Takht. No political discourse will be held on the stage being set by the Punjab government. Only teachings of Guru Nanak will be disseminated from it”, he said.
Randhawa made it clear that the stage being set up by Punjab government is not of any political party. These are people who formed the state government giving their mandate, he said.
5-MEMBER PANEL ON ROW OVER DHADRIANWALE
On complaints received against controversial Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale, the Takht formed a five-member committee to deeply examine all objectionable statements made by him during the congregations so far.
“If the panel finds his statements to be anti-Sikh, he committee will question him (Dhadrianwale) and send report accordingly”, said the Takht.