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SGPC chief warns against interference in functions

Staff Correspondent

`Governments not co-operating to organise centennial of Guru Arjan Dev's martyrdom'

CHANDIGARH: The president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Avtar Singh Makkar, has warned that the Sikh community would not brook any government interference in the forthcoming functions to mark the centennials of major events of Sikh history.

Responding to queries at a "Meet the Press'' programme organised by the Chandigarh Press Club here on Thursday, Mr. Makkar said that being the apex organisation in the service of the Sikh community, the SGPC would co-ordinate the functions related to the 400th anniversary of the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev on June 16, quadracentenary of the establishment of the highest religio-temporal seat, the Akal Takhat, on July 2 and 300 years of completion of compilation of the holy scriptures in the form of Guru Granth Sahib on August 30.

Mr. Makkar said that functions related to these historic events would be organised by the Sikh community across the globe, where those in the government could participate and contribute at an individual level. He cautioned the governments against offending the religious sentiments of the community.

The SGPC chief charged that both the Indian and Pakistan governments were not co-operating with the SGPC to organise the centennial of Guru Arjan Dev's martyrdom. He said the SGPC had requested permission for its functionaries to visit and make necessary arrangements at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore, where the Guru became the first martyr in the Sikh history, when he made to sit on a heated pan.

He said that though SGPC had not recognised the Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PGPC), it understood the compulsions that arise out of the formation of a sovereign Pakistan. He said SGPC had offered to co-operate with PGPC to establish "maryada" (code of religious conduct) in the shrines there as well as train the "granthis" (priests).

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