SGPC tells Punjab Govt not to ‘interfere’ in religious affairs

Defending its decision of denying space to the state government to hold a kirtan darbar at Anandpur Sahib’s Sisganj Gurdwara to mark the 350th martyrdom day of Guru Teg Bahadur, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) said religion was not the government’s domain.

SGPC secretary Partap Singh said the government should refrain from “interfering” in religious affairs. “Instead of holding religious programmes, the government should focus on providing logistics,” he said.

Reacting to the ongoing controversy, he said earlier the government had grossly violated “maryada”, while holding a religious programme in Srinagar’s Tagore Hall to commemorate the anniversary year on July 24. A row had erupted after a video clip of the incident surfaced online, showing those attending the event dancing to a Punjabi song.