Amritsar, August 30 – Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami today inaugurated special help desks at Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib after ardas (prayer), set up for providing information to Sangat arriving here. These desks have been set up at the plaza outside Sri Harmandar Sahib.
The attendants deputed here will give information to the arriving Sangat about history of Sri Harmandar Sahib besides other Sikh shrines, langar (community kitchen) Sri Guru Ramdas Ji, and sarais (inns).
He said the Sangat from outside Punjab often face problems due to lack of knowledge, therefore, this help desk has been set up.
Talking about the recent visit of Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann with family at Sri Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple) alleged that security attached to CM had allegedly created interruption for the visiting devotees to Golden Temple. Mann had visited the shrine on Sunday.
Dhami said it is highly unfortunate that the Sangat was harassed and stopped by the administration during the visit of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to pay obeisance at Sri Harmandar Sahib on the day of first Prakash Purb of Guru Granth Sahib. He said the political leaders should visit to pay obeisance at the Guru’s house as humble Sikh and not in an authoritarian manner.
He said it was not right to stop the Sangat for a long time in the passages and in the plaza during the visit of Bhagwant Singh Mann. He said the first Prakash Purb of Guru Granth Sahib is an important day for the Sangat, when lakhs of pilgrims visit Sri Harmandar Sahib to express their devotion. It is good that the Chief Minister expressed devotion on this occasion but the misbehaviour of administration with the Sangat hurts their devotion. He said earlier a similar incident had taken place at Sultanpur Lodhi, and keeping that in view, the SGPC after taking decision in its executive committee meeting had appealed to political leaders to not to be the reason for harassment of Sangat that arrives to pay obeisance. He said Bhagwant Singh Mann should refrain from committing acts that hurt the sentiments of Sangat.
Meanwhile, SGPC President Advocate Dhami and Jatehdar Akal Takht Gyani Harpreet Singh have strongly condemned the alleged efforts being made in Punjab for religious conversion in the name of Christianity by some so-called Christian missionaries and termed these acts being done to divide communities. He said registering a case against Nihung Sikhs after they made an effort to stop some people working for religious conversion at Daduana village on Sunday at Mehta road in Amritsar was highly unfortunate, which raises questions on the working of the government.. “It is sad that some people are deliberately disturbing the environment of Punjab by giving it communal color, which will not be tolerated. Punjab Government should immediately cancel the case registered against Nihung Sikhs in Daduana area, who raised their voice to stop religious conversion and strict action should be taken against people who are converting people forcibly, by allurement, fraudulent manner and by spreading superstitions”, they said.
