AMRITSAR: Clarifying about the 11-member advisory board formed during the last general meeting of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami said that some people are deliberately creating misconceptions about it, while the purpose of this board has been continuous since the past.
He said that still the Shiromani Committee has given details in this resolution with the opinion of Sikh scholars, so that there is no doubt.
With reference to the resolution, he said that from time to time many religious questions come to Sri Akal Takht Sahib from the country and abroad and this board will resolve them in the light of Gurmat and Sikh Rehit Meryada. The Advisory Board will work entirely under the umbrella and guidelines of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. Those small and general issues which are repeated again and again, they will be sent by the Akal Takht Sahib Secretariat to this Advisory Board for clarification.
He also said that according to the resolution, according to the ancient tradition, any issue or appeal of the decisions of the local Gursangat will be heard directly at Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
Advocate Dhami said that the discussion regarding the right to nominate members of the religious advisory board is also not logical, because only scholars are to be included in this board and the scholars are shared by all and not by any one party.
He also clarified that two members of the existing five-member advisory committee often stay abroad, due to which there is difficulty in meetings and now the addition of 11 members will solve this problem to a large extent. He also told that the nomination of 11 members will also be done with the opinion of the Singh Sahibs and the matters will be sent by the Jathedar Sahib for consideration to this board. No matter will come directly to them. He said that Sri Akal Takht Sahib is a symbol of the supreme and independent existence, in which no one can interfere. The SGPC is also bound to maintain its sovereign entity.
On this occasion Sikh scholar Dr. Inderjit Singh Gogoani and Dr. Amarjit Singh said that the Religious Advisory Committee has been running since 1990 and he has been a member of it for a long time. The working style of this committee has never been to interfere in the decisions of the Jathedar Sahibs, rather it works for clarity in the resolution of matters. Dr. Gogoani said that such committees are often formed. A committee has been formed on book hunting and a department of religious investigations and inquiries has also been functioning. He said that now Sikhs are spread all over the world and considering the multitude of issues, the establishment of such an advisory board is the need of the hour.
On this occasion, member of Dharma Prachar Committee, Bhai Ajaj Singh, practitioner, Sikh scholar, Dr. Inderjit Singh Gogoani, Dr. Amarjit Singh, Dr. Suba Singh, Principal Manjit Kaur, Secretary S. Pratap Singh, Mr. Satbir Singh Dhami, s. Balwinder Singh Kahlwan, Additional Secretary. Pritpal Singh, Private Secretary Shahbaz Singh, Deputy Secretary Jaswinder Singh Jassi, s. Harbhajan Singh Wakta, Manager S. Bhagwant Singh Dhangera, Superintendent S. Nishan Singh etc. were present.