Why is the Opposition against it?

Punjab chief minister candidate Bhagwant Mann pays his respect on the Golden Temple. The Aam Aadmi Social gathering chief has annouced that his authorities will introduce a regulation to make the telecast of Gurbani from the Golden Temple free. File picture/AFP

The Bhagwant Mann-led authorities in Punjab has kicked up a brand new controversy. It has plans to amend the Gurdwara Act, 1925 that might make the published of Gurbani, scared compositions by Sikh gurus, from Amritsar’s Golden Temple free. The announcement of the choice comes weeks after the state authorities hit out on the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for monopolising the telecast rights of Gurbani.

Chief Minister Mann put out a tweet on Sunday, a day earlier than the particular session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, saying that an modification to the Gurdwara Act, 1925 might be launched. “With the blessings of God, we’re going to make a historic resolution tomorrow… in keeping with the demand of the congregation, we’re including a brand new clause within the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925 that the transmission of Gurbani from Harimandar Sahib might be free for all… no tender required… Tomorrow within the cupboard… On June 20, there might be a decision within the Vidhan Sabha,” he wrote in a tweet in Punjabi, which has been translated.

Mann believes that Gurbani is everybody’s proper and ought to be freed from price. Nevertheless, the Aam Aadmi Social gathering authorities’s resolution has not gone down properly with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the organisation liable for the administration of the Sikh locations of worship in Punjab, the Union Territory of Chandigarh, and Himachal Pradesh; the politically influential Badal household; and the Akali Dal.

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We check out the politics over Gurbani and the rationale behind the controversy.

Additionally learn: Defined: Why Akal Takht desires the harmonium to go from the Golden Temple

Who has the telecast rights of Gurbani?

The SGPC has granted the rights to telecast Gurbani to the PTC community, owned by the Badals. If the sacred hymns are made free it is going to break the monopoly of the Punjabi media community.

The modification would harm the household of former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal and the Opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which has a significant affect on spiritual affairs due to its proximity to the SGPC.

The contract for Gurbani ends subsequent month and the apex physique of the Sikhs is within the strategy of reviewing it.

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who has stakes in PTC, mentioned in a press convention final month that Gurbani was being telecast on a no-profit foundation with out ads. Based on him, the PTC doesn’t cost for the telecast however pays ₹4 to five crore yearly to the SGPC for faculties and faculties run by the gurdwara physique.

Why does Mann need to make the telecast free?

Mann has been mentioning the Gurbani telecast rights concern for some time now. In Might, he questioned the rationale behind the monopoly of 1 channel and hit out on the SGPC for favouring the Badals.

“Why is Gurbani being telecast by Badals’ channel,” Mann requested SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami final month.

The Punjab CM mentioned that the state authorities was able to bear the price to put in methods in order that Gurbani will be telecast on all channels at no cost. He added that it was essential that the common message of “Sarbat da Bhala” (welfare of all) is disseminated by means of the “Sarb Sanji Gurbani” the world over.

Additional questioning Dhami, he requested what was extra essential, spreading the message of Gurbani or “extending largesse to their blue-eyed channel”, in keeping with a report in The Indian Specific.

How has SGPC reacted to the modification?

The Sikh physique is just not in favour of a free telecast. In an announcement, the SGPC chief mentioned, “Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann ji shouldn’t attempt to confuse the spiritual issues of Sikhs… Don’t confuse the nation in your political pursuits. Broadcasting of Gurbani is just not a traditional broadcast, its sanctity and ethics shouldn’t be uncared for.”

Dhami warned Mann saying that the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, is a Centre’s Act and an modification might be launched by the central authorities within the Lok Sabha after consulting the SGPC, a physique chosen by the Sikh group.

What has the Opposition mentioned?

Calling the AAP authorities’s transfer “unconstitutional”, Akali Dal’s Daljeet Singh Cheema mentioned {that a} “direct interference within the spiritual actions of the Sikh group”.

“The Sikh Gurdwara Act is underneath Parliament. The Sikh group has elected the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee by means of voting to take choices relating to Guru Ghar underneath this Act of Parliament. Has the above committee handed any such decision on this regard? With out that, even the Parliament can not amend this Act. The Sikh group won’t ever tolerate this work being finished underneath the orders of (Arvind) Kejriwal,” learn a translation of his Punjabi tweet.

The BJP too has mentioned that the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925 will be amended solely by the Parliament of India.

“I’ve at all times believed that nobody ought to have a monopoly on the transmission of Gurbani from Sri Darbar Sahib and the transmission of Gurbani ought to attain each family. However the way in which Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann desires to problem the sovereignty of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, he can not accomplish that. It is not going to be thought-about legitimate or correct in any means. The All India Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925 will be amended solely by the Parliament of India. @SGPCAmritsar,” BJP Nationwide Spokesperson RP Singh tweeted.

Congress chief Sukhpal Singh Khaira additionally questioned the Punjab authorities’s resolution to could make modifications to a central act. He tweeted, “So far as my information goes Punjab authorities can not tinker or amend or add to the prevailing Sikh Gurudwara Act 1925 as its a central act! I’m wondering how @BhagwantMan is talking so as to add a clause within the mentioned Act!”

What’s the Sikh Gurdwara Act?

The Act governs the functioning of the SGPC, which manages a minimum of 100 gurdwaras in Punjab, together with Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple). It additionally allots rights for the telecast of Gurbani.

With inputs from companies

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