Amritsar, January 5 – The members of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) today asked Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Singh Mann to tender public apology for his defamatory statement against Guru’s Golak (offering box) and SGPC members, after handing over memorandums in his name to deputy commissioners (DCs) across Punjab.
In their letter to Punjab CM Handing Bhagwant Singh Mann, the SGPC members asked him to apologize publicly or face defamation suit.
At the time of handing over the memorandum Amritsar DC Harpreet Singh Sudan IAS, those present included SGPC executive member Bawa Singh Gumanpura, members Bhai Rajinder Singh Mehta, Advocate Bhagwant Singh Sialka, Bhai Ram Singh, Surjit Singh Bhittewad, Mangwinder Singh Khaparkheri, Baljit Singh Jalal Usma, Amarjit Singh Bandala, Ajaib Singh Abhyasi, SGPC secretary Partap Singh and other officials.
The SGPC members who are protesting here said that Bhagwant Singh Mann has also made fun of the principle of Dasvandh (10% of income) and Sewa (voluntary service) which has been going on since the time of the Gurus, in addition to uttering defamatory words against SGPC members. This has caused resentment in the entire Sikh community. They said that Bhagwant Singh Mann should take back his words and apologize immediately, otherwise a defamation case will be filed against him by SGPC members.
In the letter to Bhagwant Singh Mann, SGPC members said that the principle and Maryada (conduct) of Guru’s Golak, Langar, Sangat, Dasvandh are going on since the time of the Gurus, which continues even today. They said that the devotees who come for paying obeisance in Gurdwara Sahibs get happiness by giving offerings according to their devotion and the arrangements of the Gurdwaras and the necessary work is done for the Sangat are also done by this offering. They said the religious sentiments of the devotees are closely connected with the Sikh traditions and Bhagwant Singh Mann’s statement about Guru’s Golak has hurt the religious sentiments of the devotees. The letter stated that SGPC members serve without any salary allowance and those are only SGPC members in any elected office in India who do not receive benefits in return for service. It was also said that the SGPC is doing great work only with the offerings made by the Sangat. They said where the governments have failed, the Sikh organization has played a leading role and the Gurdwaras does not lag behind in the service of humanity even in difficult times. In such a situation Bhagwant Singh Mann’s statement is hurtful to Sikh traditions and insulting to SGPC members.
Meanwhile, at the Amritsar DCs office, the members of the SGPC said that the person sitting on the constitutional post of the Chief Minister has expressed his narrow-mindedness by using low-level language, for which he should publicly apologize. They said that if Mann does not apologize, all the members will file a defamation suit.
