Punjab government & police administration should refrain from creating an atmosphere of terror in Sangat
Amritsar : The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami has asked the Punjab government and the police administration to stop unnecessary interference in the arrangements of Gurdwara Sahibs on the occasion of Khalsa Sajna Diwas (birth anniversary of Khalsa) and to stay within their regulations.
Dhami said when the Sikh community is celebrating Khalsa Sajna Diwas as per the Panthic traditions, there is resentment in Sangat (community + congregation) due to unnecessary interference in the Gurdwaras by the Punjab government and the police administration. He said arbitrary restrictions are being imposed on the Sangat by the police administration, about which information is being received by the SGPC.
Harjinder Singh Dhami said that this action of the government is extremely bad, that cannot be tolerated. He said that because the Khalsa Sajna Diwas is very important and the occasion of devotion for the Sikh community, a large number of Sangat gather at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib and Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, but they are facing inconvenience due to the unnecessary interference of the police.
The SGPC President said that an atmosphere of fear and terror is being deliberately created in the Sikh Sangat, the policemen deputed at the Gurdwaras are also pressuring the managers to follow instructions as per their wishes, which is an unacceptable action and like a direct challenge to Maryada (code of conduct) by the police. He said that these reports are also being received from the SGPC employees that the police present in the civil dress without identification inside the Gurdwaras are harassing the Sangat by keeping an eye on them, to which the Sangat is raising strong objections.
Harjinder Singh Dhami said that for these actions Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s Punjab government is under direct questioning, for which it has to be held accountable.
SGPC President said that the government should immediately withdraw the police from the Gurdwaras and not create an atmosphere of terror among the Sangat coming to celebrate Khalsa Sajna Diwas, an important festival of the Sikh community.
He appealed to the Sangat to ignore the fear being created by the police and come to Gurdwara Sahibs to pay obeisance like every year on this occasion. He said that if the government or police administration harasses the Sangat, it should be immediately reported to the managers of the local and related Gurdwara Sahibs.
