CM Mann criticizes SGPC for stalling on live telecast of Gurbani
Chandigarh (IANS). Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday accused the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) of deliberately dilly-dallying on the issue of live telecast of holy Gurbani to benefit a channel pro-Badal family.
Interacting with the media here, the Chief Minister said that instead of ensuring that the nectar of Gurbani “reaches every household with free-to-air and free-of-cost broadcast, the SGPC has done a U-turn to ensure that the broadcasting rights remain in the hands of only one channel”.
He said that it is surprising that instead of working in the larger interest of humanity, the SGPC is working on the whims of the Badal family by inordinately delaying the issue of free telecast of Gurbani.
Mann said the former Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib had advocated starting a channel for free broadcast of Gurbani a year ago, but the SGPC has been in deep slumber since then.
The Chief Minister said that now even the Jathedar has not named any channel broadcasting Gurbani in his letter, but the SGPC, being ‘more loyal than the king’, has asked to continue with the same channel to please its masters.
He said that it is unfortunate that the personal interests of the people at the top of SGPC are keeping the ‘Sangat’ away from Gurbani.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the State Government, if given an opportunity, can serve to make all arrangements for live and free-to-air broadcast of Gurbani within 24 hours.
Citing the example of live feed of most government events, he said that most of the time it is arranged within an hour. Mann said that this would ensure free broadcast of Gurbani on every satellite and web channel, that too within seconds, thereby benefiting the public.
Responding to a question, the Chief Minister said it was ironic that the governor did not know whether the session called by the state was valid or illegal.
He said that in the past also the Captain Amarinder Singh-led government had called two such sessions where the approval of the Governor was taken later.
Mann said the state had called the session after consulting lawmakers and in accordance with the constitution.
