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SGPC says that PTC will continue to broadcast Gurbani till it has its own TV channel. ‘Greed’s the limit’, says Mann

July 21, 2023
Saqafy Times

Chandigarh: In a last-minute change of heart, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) announced on Friday that it would start live telecasts. Gurbani 24 from Golden Temple through his own youtube channel julyThe existing system of private TV channels will continue for some time.

Announcing the decision through a video message, SGPC General Secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal said that there were apprehensions about the SGPC’s YouTube channel reaching every devotee, following which it was decided that until the SGPC starts its own TV channel, Till then private channel PTC will continue even after its contract period expires on 23rd July.

The PTC, owned by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal, has the live telecast rights. Gurbani From Golden Temple since last 11 years.

Last week, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami had announced Following the expiry of its contract with PTC on 23 July, SGPC will launch its own YouTube channel for the relay on 24 July. Gurbani Live from Golden Temple and will also start his own TV channel in a few months. In the interim, SGPC had decided to hire an alternate TV channel for telecast Gurbani,

The SGPC is an elected body responsible for the management of historic Gurdwaras in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. Close ties with Shiromani Akali Dal, Question about exclusive rights of relay of PTC Gurbani The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party have often been raising this issue. The widespread allegation is that the Akalis control the functioning of the SGPC to further their political interests.

Reacting to the SGPC decision, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann wondered if it was an attempt to give a private channel the right to continue broadcasting again. Gurbani.

SGPC, Mann said one more tweetshould clarify about allowing all channels to telecast Gurbani free of cost from 24th July. He said that if this service is given to the Punjab government, it can make all the arrangements within 24 hours.

In May, the Punjab chief minister objected to the SGPC giving relay rights to a private channel. In June, the AAP government passed a bill amending the Sikh Gurdwara Act of 1925 to add a clause that the rights to relocate the holy place Gurbani The Golden Temple should be given to all TV and social media channels.

However, the bill has not been signed Governor Banwarilal Purohitwho informed the Mann government that the session during which it was passed was not a legally valid session.

The SGPC has consistently objected to the Mann government’s move, saying it is direct government interference in the religious affairs of the Sikhs.

On Friday, Grewal said that since the decision has been taken to make the relay live Gurbani Through its YouTube channel, the SGPC was flooded with inquiries about how the system would ensure that every devotee is able to access it.

Grewal said, in view of the apprehensions of the devotees, the Akal Takht (supreme body of the Sikhs) had instructed the SGPC To continue with the current arrangement and also to allow relaying to the PTC Gurbani until the society is able to set up its own satellite television.

He said the SGPC has already written to the Center to allow its own television channel and also sought time from the minister for a delegation to meet him in this regard.

(Edited by Tony Rae)

Read also: From SGPC history to 1925 Gurdwara Act, why Golden Temple Gurbani broadcast has much more