SGPC wants amendments in Gurdwara Act to include NRI Sikhs

Amritsar, Dec 20 (UNI) The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) today sought an amendment in the Gurdwara Act to include at least 10 Non-Resident Indian (NRI) baptised Sikhs in the SGPC general house.

In a demands charter submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar, after the PM paid obeisance at the Golden Temple here, the Committee pointed out that amendments of the act are in the purview of the Union Home Ministry.

The SGPC general house in its session last month had passed a resolution on this issue.

Another demand included imposition of a blanket ban by the central government on the publication of the the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib. The SGPc pointed out that certain private publishers in Punjab and in other states continued to publish and print the Guru Granth Sahib despite a ban imposed by the Akal Takht, the highest spiritual and temporal seat of the Sikhs.

''Private publishers and printers cannot adhere to the sanctity laid down by the Akal Takht, only the SGPC can do so,'' the charter said.

The demands also included extending the term of the SGPC president and other office bearers and the 11-member executive to two-and-a-half years from the present one year. This again was in the purview of the Union Home Ministry and Dr Singh could take up this issue, the SGPC said.

The SGPC also demanded that fifth and sixth phase of the Golden Temple corridor beautification plan should be completed immediately.

The Shiromani Committee also called for halting the mushrooming growth of hospitals, resturants and hotels in the vicnity of the Golden Temple.

The SGPC also asked the PM to direct the Punjab government to shut down all wine and tobacco selling shops from in the old walled city. The Shiromani Committee also called for halting the multi-storey shopping complex being built by the Improvement Trust outside the Clock Tower entrance of the Golden Temple.

UNI XC-HS PA DS1150