Bhagwant Mann’s preparations to shock the Badal family, what kind of request did he make to the Governor?

Chandigarh (IANS). Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday urged Governor Banwari Lal Purohit to give his assent to the proposed amendment to the Sikh Gurdwara Act-1925 to end the Badal family’s monopoly on the transmission of the holy Gurbani from Sri Harmandir Sahib.

In a letter to the Governor, Bhagwant Mann said that a particular channel owned by a political family has monopolized the telecast of Sarab Sanjhi Gurbani from Sri Harmandir Sahib. The channel is also earning profit from this.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that the (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was introduced in the Legislative Assembly to propagate the teachings of the holy Gurus and to ensure that the broadcast of Sarab Sanjhi Gurbani from Sri Harmandir Sahib is available free of cost to all Sikh Gurdwaras.

He said that Section 125-A was added in the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925. It was passed by the state assembly with an overwhelming majority. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that the bill was sent for the Governor’s signature on June 26. But till date it has not been signed. He said that this is a way of stifling the democratic will of the people of Punjab.

Bhagwant Mann informed the Governor that the agreement of SGPC with the said channel would expire on 23rd July. If the Governor does not give assent to the bill immediately, a situation may arise where lakhs of devotees across the world will again be deprived of watching the live telecast of the holy Gurbani from Sri Harmandir Sahib.

He said that this would seriously hurt the religious sentiments of Sikhs across the world. Bhagwant Mann has urged the Governor to sign the bill at the earliest so that the broadcast of Sarab Sanjhi Gurbani from Sri Harmandir Sahib is made freely available to all through various channels.