Sirsa: PSGPC nod not needed for nagar kirtan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 11 

There is a row among the Sikh community in Delhi over the conduct of the nagar kirtan (religious procession) to Nankana Sahib in Pakistan to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. 

The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, on Wednesday contradicted the claims of the Sarna brothers — Paramjit Singh and Harvinder Singh — and said DSGMC had the permission to take out a nagar kirtan. He accused the Sarna’s of spreading false information. 

Yesterday, the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi (SADD) Paramjit Singh Sarna had said only his party had the permission to take a nagar kirtan to Nankana Sahib. 

“This issue is between two governments (India and Pak) and not a matter between two Gurdwara’s. We need permission from Indian Government that is coordinating with Pakistan. Sarna is misleading the Sikh community. He is lying in the name of Guru Nanak Dev. We don’t need permission from Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) to visit Nankana Sahib which Sarna is claiming” he said. 

Addressing a press conference here Sirsa tabled documents to say that DSGMC was in correspondence with Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs and have the requisite permissions from Government of India to carry out the nagar kirtan to Nankana Sahib.