Trying to resolve dispute between govt, SGPC: Takht

THE ACTING JATHEDAR SAYS THE ISSUE IS NOT AS BIG AS IS BEING PROJECTED AND SOME MISUNDERSTANDINGS ARE BEHIND THE DIFFERENCES

AMRITSAR: Speaking on differences that have arisen between the state government and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) over joint celebrations of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on Tuesday said there is a misunderstanding behind the differences and they are trying to resolve them.

Addressing mediapersons at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, he said the issue is not as big as is being projected.

“Two months are left for the event at Sultanpur Lodhi. We hope gurpurb will be celebrated jointly after burying all differences,” he added.

The apex gurdwara body and the state government are caught in a blame game over non-cooperation for joint celebrations. To prevent such a situation, Akal Takht had advised that a coordination committee be formed to chalk out programmes together.

The gurdwara management committee proposed its committee members and scheduled a meeting twice, but the government did not send its nominees for the meeting.

TELLS SGPC TO ACT AGAINST THOSE WHO DEFACED PORTRAIT

Giani Harpreet Singh also directed the gurdwara body to take legal action against those who desecrated the portrait of slain militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, former head of Damdami Taksal, at Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Ludhiana. “

The manhandling of an innocent student is condemnable. Sikhs have never made derogatory remark against any religion but they will not tolerate such remarks against their religion or martyrs,” he said in a communiqué.