In an unprecedented
move, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has decided to ban the
entry of the media in the 'parikarma' (walkway) of the Golden Temple ahead of
the 32nd anniversary of Operation Bluestar.
SGPC chief secretary Harcharan Singh has sent a letter to Amritsar deputy commissioner requesting him to take steps to bar reporters from entering the parkarma, claiming that their presence would hurt the Sikh sentiments.
In 2014, the anniversary had seen a medieval-type sword fight between radical Sikh groups and the Task Force or the internal security of SGPC at the Golden Temple. Although, there were no major injuries, the fight in the shrine was caught on camera and received widespread media coverage.
The latest order has come at a time when there is tension among one of the most prominent Sikh seminaries - Damdami Taksal (once headed by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale) - and well-known preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale. Some supporters of the Taksal had allegedly attacked Dhadrianwale on May 18 in Ludhiana which had his left close associate Bhupinder Singh Dhakki dead.
Also, many Sikhs are upset with SGPC and the state government over their inability to crack the main case of desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib at Bargari village in Faridkot last year. On Friday, another major controversy had erupted after a priest of the Golden Temple refused to honour chief minister Parkash Singh Badal with a siropa or robe over the issue.
SGPC chief secretary Harcharan Singh has sent a letter to Amritsar deputy commissioner requesting him to take steps to bar reporters from entering the parkarma, claiming that their presence would hurt the Sikh sentiments.
In 2014, the anniversary had seen a medieval-type sword fight between radical Sikh groups and the Task Force or the internal security of SGPC at the Golden Temple. Although, there were no major injuries, the fight in the shrine was caught on camera and received widespread media coverage.
The latest order has come at a time when there is tension among one of the most prominent Sikh seminaries - Damdami Taksal (once headed by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale) - and well-known preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale. Some supporters of the Taksal had allegedly attacked Dhadrianwale on May 18 in Ludhiana which had his left close associate Bhupinder Singh Dhakki dead.
Also, many Sikhs are upset with SGPC and the state government over their inability to crack the main case of desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib at Bargari village in Faridkot last year. On Friday, another major controversy had erupted after a priest of the Golden Temple refused to honour chief minister Parkash Singh Badal with a siropa or robe over the issue.
SGPC has also sent a copy of the order to the Amritsar commissioner of police besides circulating it to various media outfits through the district information and public relations office. The letter states that 'intervention' of journalists, photo journalists, videographers and TV channel crews in the 'parkarama' of the Golden Temple hurts the Sikh sentiments.
Reacting to media gag orders, Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh said, "This is a condemnable and reproachable act by the Badal-run and backed SGPC. Golden Temple is 'Guru da ghar' (abode of Guru). They can't stop anyone from visiting the shrine whether one is a photographer or a journalist."
The SGPC chief secretary
said the committee had decided in principle not to allow press coverage of the
event for which separate arrangement has been made outside the Golden Temple
complex. He has urged the police and civil administration to issue required
instructions to media persons for the purpose.
Shiromani Akal Dal (Amritsar) general secretary Jarnail Singh Sakhira said, "This is something unheard in the history of SGPC. How can it stop media from entering the Golden Temple complex to cover the event which the Sikhs around the world want to see? SGPC officials are scared."
Source:TOI
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon