SGPC opens counters for pilgrims visiting Pak

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Friday set up help centres to assist in the visa process of Sikhs wanting to visit Nankana Sahib in Pakistan for Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary celebrations next month.

This comes a day after the Centre allowed Sikhs jathas to undertake the pilgrimage.

The help centres have been set up district-wise across state. The centres will collect their documents and submit to the authorities for the visa clearance.

SGPC secretary Partap Singh said the help centres had been established at various gurdwaras.

He said devotees from Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran and Pathankot districts should visit the SGPC office’s Yatra Department on October 7, 8, and 9, respectively.

Similarly, on October 7, devotees from Kapurthala district should reach State Gurdwara and those from Sangrur and Barnala should visit Gurdwara Nanakiana Sahib, Sangrur.

Devotees from Bathinda and Mansa should go to Gurdwara Haziratan Sahib, Bathinda, and those from Chandigarh and Mohali should report at Gurdwara Amb Sahib, Mohali.

On October 8, devotees from Jalandhar and Phagwara should visit Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Aman Nagar (near Pathankot Chowk), Jalandhar. Those from Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib visit Gurdwara Sri Dukhniwaran Sahib.

Devotees from Faridkot, Muktsar and Moga should reach Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Muktsar; and those from Ropar can contact Gurdwara Bhatha Sahib.

On October 9, devotees from Hoshiarpur should reach Gurdwara Sri Kalgidhar Sahib (near Roshan Ground), Hoshiarpur; and those from Ludhiana should visit Gurdwara Manji Sahib, Alamgir (Ludhiana).

Devotees from Ferozepur and Fazilka should report at Gurdwara Sri Singh Sabha (Khalsa Gurdwara), Ferozepur Cantt; and those from Nawanshahr and Banga at Gurdwara Charankamal Sahib (Patshahi Chevin), Banga.

SGPC writes to ADGP to meet Rajoana in jail

Nine days after the Supreme Court asked why former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh’s killer Balwant Singh Rajoana, who is currently lodged in the Patiala jail, has not been hanged, the SGPC has written to the ADGP (Jails) requesting a meeting with him.

A three-judge Bench led by Justice Vikram Nath had made the remark hearing a plea for commutation of his death penalty to life term on ground of inordinate delay in the decision on his mercy plea.

The Bench posted the matter for hearing on October 15, making it clear that it will not adjourn the matter any further.

SGPC secretary Partap Singh said a formal letter had been sent to the ADGP (Jails) seeking time to meet Rajoana at the earliest. He said Rajoana has been imprisoned for nearly three decades and Sikh institutions hadbeen making efforts for the commutation of his sentence. ommutation of his death sentence.