SGPC to send delegation to Centre over restrictions on Sikh kirpans at airports

Amritsar, November 12: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has resolved to send a delegation to the central government to protest against the restrictions imposed on Sikh employees wearing kirpans at airports across India. The decision was taken at the first meeting of the newly elected SGPC executive committee.  

Addressing the media after the meeting, SGPC president Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami said that the restriction on Sikh employees wearing kirpans while on duty at airports is a violation of the Sikh’s religious rights and a violation of the Indian Constitution. He added that the SGPC is committed to raising its voice against this issue at all levels and will fight for the religious rights of the Sikhs.

The SGPC has also condemned the recent incidents in Canada where Sikhism was misrepresented and blamed for a violent act. Dhami said that the Sikh community respects all religions and would never indulge in any such act of violence. He added that the negative portrayal of Sikhs in the Canadian media is a deliberate attempt to malign the Sikh community.  

The SGPC has also expressed its concern over the large number of visas issued to Sikh pilgrims visiting Pakistan being cancelled. The SGPC has demanded that the government should ensure that Sikh pilgrims face no difficulties in obtaining visas to visit religious places in Pakistan.  

The SGPC has also appealed to the Chief Election Commissioner of the SGPC elections to ensure that the voter lists are prepared in a fair and transparent manner and that no ineligible person is included in the voter list.

In the meeting, the SGPC also discussed various issues related to gurdwaras, trusts, and education. The SGPC released a book titled “Sikh Struggle 1984: Role of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee,” prepared by the Sikh History Research Board.

#SGPC #Sikhs #Kirpans #Airports #CanadaIncident #ReligiousFreedom #VisaIssues