AMRITSAR SAHIB—An eight-member delegation of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) led by its president Avtar Makkar has arrived in Pakistan via the Attari-Wagah joint check post. The visit came on at the invitation of West Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to negotiate religious issues with the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC).
The major issues to be discussed include adopting the amended version of Nanakshahi Calendar to commemorate the Sikh religious occasions. At present, the PSGPC follows the original Nanakshahi calendar. This had led to the denial of Pakistani visas to Sikh pilgrims from India on various occasions in the past.
Makkar said they would try to persuade the PSGPC to follow the amended Nanakshahi calendar and hand over the responsibility of the upkeep of the Gurdwaras to the SGPC.
Under pressure by the Sant Samaj led by Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma (Damdami Taksal Mehta), the SGPC has adopted the amended Nanakshahi Calender which is quite similar to the Hindus fluctuating Bikrami Calendar with major events and holidays of both coinciding for convenience sake. Sincere segments of Sikhs have opposed the SGPC move alleging that it fulfills the agenda of Rashtrya Swaym Sewak Sangh (RSS). However the SGPC has not withdrawn its decision. PSGPC has been following the original Nanakshahi Calender of fixed dates that represents the separate identity of the Sikh religion.
