The executive committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Monday unanimously decided to “reject” Harjinder Singh Dhami’s resignation as the president of the apex gurdwara body and appealed to him to immediately resume his duties.
After a meeting held under the leadership of senior vice-president Raghujit Singh Virk at its sub-office in Chandigarh, all SGPC executive committee members visited Dhami’s residence in Hoshiarpur and urged him to “immediately resume” his duty as the president of the Sikh organisation.
It was the second visit of SGPC executive committee members to Dhami since his resignation from the post on February 17 after the then Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh condemned the dismissal of Giani Harpreet Singh as the jathedar of Damdama Sahib at Talwandi Sabo near Bathinda.
According to SGPC sources, Dhami demanded a few days to consider the SPGC’s request. Earlier, Dhami had said that he won’t withdraw his resignation.
According to an SGPC statement, at the meeting, it was also decided to form a committee of academic scholars to review the Centre’s New Education Policy (NEP) in light of the message delivered by Jathedar of Akal Takht and Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, on the occasion of the Sikh festival of Hola Mohalla.
The statement said the committee would evaluate reforms necessary in the NEP in Punjab’s context, and necessary actions would be taken accordingly.
“The committee will also deliberate on the current challenges facing the Gurmukhi language and the recommendations will be taken up with the Union government,” the SGPC said.
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Besides these, the SGPC also focused on religious campaigns announced by Giani Kuldeep Singh.
“As per the Jathedar’s orders, the SGPC will initiate a vigorous religious campaign which will reach every household. This campaign will commence on April 13 on the occasion of Khalsa Sajna Diwas (Vaisakhi). To mark its launch, ‘Amrit Sanchar’ (initiation) ceremonies will be held at the Takhts, where thousands will be initiated into the Sikh faith,” the SGPC said.
At Takht Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib, the ‘Amrit Sanchar’ will be performed using the historical ‘Khanda’ of Guru Gobind Singh, the statement said.
This year, the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur and the 350th Guruship centenary of the 10 Sikh master, Guru Gobind Singh, is being commemorated according to ‘Panthic’ traditions and the religious campaign will be dedicated to these historic events.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd