New Delhi: The Bhagwant Mann-led government in Punjab has announced its move to make the broadcast of Gurbani from Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar free for all.
To achieve this, the government plans to introduce a new section in the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, after presenting a proposal in the state assembly.
Since 1998, Harmandir Sahib has been broadcasting Gurbani in the morning and evening. Gurbani is the term used by Sikhs to refer to the compositions of the Sikh Gurus and other writers of Guru Granth Sahib.
Currently, the broadcast rights of Gurbani are held by the politically influential Badal family-owned PTC network since 2007. Making the broadcast free is expected to break the network's monopoly and create a level playing field for all television channels.
The PTC network pays ₹2 crore annually to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which administers Harmandir Sahib, for these rights. This move is likely to dilute the Panthic aura of the opposition Shiromani Akali Dal, which is dominated by the Badals.
The PTC network claims to cover all gatherings and programs of SGPC across the country and airs them worldwide through its channel. It also has a dedicated program for SGPC's events every week. The network asserts that it spends ₹10 to 12 crores in total on coverage and telecasts.
The contract between SGPC and the PTC Network for the telecast of Gurbani is set to expire in July 2023.
However, the Punjab government led by the Aam Aadmi Party argues that broadcast rights should not be awarded through a tender process and that any channel interested in broadcasting Gurbani should be free to do so.
SGPC, on the other hand, alleges that the government is interfering in religious matters.
SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami stated, "Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann ji should not try to confuse the religious matters of Sikhs... Don't confuse the country for your political interests. Broadcasting of Gurbani is not a normal broadcast; its sanctity and ethics should not be neglected."
The move has been criticized by the opposition Akali Dal, with Daljeet Singh Cheema calling it "unconstitutional" and a "direct interference in the religious activities of the Sikh community."
The opposition argues that the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925 is a central government act that cannot be amended by the state.
The Congress party in Punjab appears divided on the issue, with party leader Navjot Singh Sidhu praising the state government's move while the influential leader and MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira question Bhagwant Mann's decision.
Chief Minister Mann, asserting that Gurbani is the right of everyone and should be free of cost, made the announcement through a tweet.
"With the blessings of God, we are going to make a historic decision tomorrow, as per the demand of all devotes, we are adding a new clause in the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925 that the transmission of Gurbani from Harminder Sahib will be free for all... no tender required... tomorrow in the cabinet... on June 20, a vote will be taken in the state assembly," his tweet read.