51-member panel to protect interests of Sikhs abroad

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 27

The SGPC has proposed to widen its sphere to safeguard the interests of the Sikhs settled abroad. For the purpose, a 51-member advisory panel would be constituted under the SGPC president’s leadership to fight against racial discrimination and other issues being faced by the community overseas. This was among other resolutions passed during the general house meeting at Teja Singh Samundri Hall today.

SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal said prominent personalities from various countries where Sikhs reside would be part of the panel which would meet at least twice a year.

He said the move would help the SGPC remain connected with the Sikh community abroad.

Besides condemning the racial attacks on Sikhs due to mistaken identity, the house criticised the forced conversion of Sikhs in Afghanistan. The Centre was urged to approach its counterpart.

In another resolution, the SGPC condemned the step-motherly treatment meted out to Punjabi language in Chandigarh and Punjab. The members also demanded that all official communication in Punjab should be made mandatory in Punjabi only.

In another resolution, the house scrapped allocation of 16.14-acre land to Chandigarh-based Sikh Education Society. The house also took note of objectionable posts on the social media about the Sikh religion. It demanded a stern law to deal with it.

Bhaur’s proposal approved

The general house approved the proposal of former general secretary Sukhdev Singh Bhaur who intends to file a review petition against the Ayodhya verdict in the Supreme Court. Bhaur had demanded that some representative from the SGPC or any other Sikh organisation should have been invited to register the comments in the case.