AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhik Committee has asked the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to facilitate grace time for exchanging demonetized notes of Rupees 500 and 1,000 as the body is facing problem in managing the money received from Golaks (donation boxes). The recent demonetization of all Rupees 500 & 1,000 notes in circulation across India from November 9 onwards by the Union Government has put the SGPC in a difficult situation. While the move was announced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a step to curb black money and terror funding, the SGPC has to invent new ways to ensure its donations are now compliant with the latest law.
Speaking with Sikh24, SGPC’s Additional Secretary Diljeet Singh Bedi said that although the SGPC had directed all the cash-dealing counters to stop accepting the demonetized notes of 500 and 1,000, dealing with the donations received from golaks was cumbersome. He added that a Chandigarh based Sikh devotee had recently donated demonetized notes of 500 & 1,000 worth Rs. 9,000,000 for langar purposes at Sri Harmadnir Sahib.
“We have now decided to return this money back to the devotee as we cannot deposit this amount in the bank,” he told Sikh24.
S. Bedi informed that SGPC President Prof. Kirpal Singh Badungar was apprised of the problem and he convened an emergency meeting to take stock of the situation. “Prof. Badungar has spoken with the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over phone seeking grace period for the SGPC so it could exchange the demonetized notes,” he added.
It is noteworthy here that the golak of Sri Harmandir Sahib is opened on alternate days in the presence of SGPC officials. Most donations at Sri Harmandir Sahib are made using currency bills, while many devotees also offer gold, silver and other ornaments.
Speaking with Sikh24 about the current issues, SGPC President Prof. Kirpal Singh Badungar slammed the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee head Captain Amarinder Singh for leveling allegations on Akali leaders of whitening their black money via SGPC. Badungar has said that the account of SGPC was transparent and the SGPC was following the principles devised by the Union Government. “Captain Amarinder Singh is trying to earn political mileage by leveling baseless allegations on the Supreme Sikh body,” he added.
It may be recalled here that the SGPC had directed all its affiliated Gurdwaras and Educational Institutions for not accepting the demonetized notes on November 9.
If any Gursikh wants to give big donation he or she should think twice to give to SGPC until it is in good hands, before that he should help sikh shaheed families, education institutions who promote sikhi or use that money for disturbing religious & sikh history books to the sikh sangat.
i fully agree, SIKHs around the world need to donate to the thousands and thousands of families whos lives were turned upside down by the evil indian government…. you can donate to khalsa aid, sikhs for justice and ESAAF
Narinder Modi pretending to catch the culprits for Money Laundering [black money] and going to the poor public, whilst the big boys are scot-free – this sums up Indian system.
As for donations in golaks from Gurdwara – SGPC may be losing out as they cannot fund their pockets, luxuries, it being used for their benefits.
I hope all of this money is actually being used for gurdwaras and not going into the pocket of corrupt people like Badal. Also, Sikhs need to ban fireworks at Siri Darbar sahib, NO guru would want Sikhs doing fireworks for “religious” holidays or events, fireworks are meaningless and they cause so much pollution, they harm the environment and animals and they also injure so many children each year in Punjab…. also until Sikhs have freedom in India and the viscous tyrants who murdered SIKHS in India such as Kamal Nath, KPS gill, General Killerdeep Brar, Sumedh Saini, Jadish Tyltler, etc etc… SIKHS HAVE NOTHING TO CELEBRATE IN UGLY INDIA WHERE THE SIKH GENOCIDE PERPETRATORS ROAM FREELY, NO JUSTICE WHATSOEVER FOR SIKHS.
You summarized it pretty well.