CHANDIGARH, Punjab—On October 15, the Punjab government approached the Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh seeking his intervention to convince SGPC for the joint celebrations of Guru Nanak Sahib’s 550th birthday in Sultanpur Lodhi on November 12. It is learnt that the Punjab government has offered to hold this function under the patronage of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and with the support of the SGPC.
Cabinet ministers Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Charanjit Channi met the Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh to present this proposal and also arranged a telephonic conversation between him and the Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh.
“No political speeches would be allowed in the main function and only Jathedars of the five Takhts, head granthi of Darbar Sahib, Prime Minister or senior representative of the Union Government, former PM Dr Manmohan Singh, CM and SGPC president would be present on the stage,” reads the proposal by Punjab government.
“We have urged Giani Harpreet Singh to direct the SGPC to support official events and not waste Rs 120-150 million of public money on setting up a separate stage, especially when the state had already raised the required infrastructure for key programs,” said the duo cabinet colleagues while interacting with media after meeting Akal Takht Jathedar.
Technical Educational & industrial Training Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said the donation money could be utilized in furthering the cause of the religion, which was one of the prime objectives of the SGPC. Moreover, two separate events would confuse the devotees, he said.
Meanwhile, the Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh has said that he would convene a meeting of all five jathedars next week to finalize the program for the main functions.
