AMRITSAR: The annual budget session of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee religious Parliament of Sikhs will be held on March 30 at the headquarters of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee at Teja Singh Samundari Hall here on Natch 30.
Approving the recommendations of the Budget Committee, a meeting of the Interim Committee was held here under the chairmanship of Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, President of the SGPC.
While talking to media persons after the meeting, Advocate Dhami said that the Interim Committee has approved the convening of the budget session on March 30, at 1:00 pm.
He said that during the session the budget for the financial year 2022-23 would be passed and the priorities for the future work would be determined.
The SGPC President said that on the issue of launching direct flights from Sri Guru Ram Dass International Airport at Amritsar, the SGPC had met the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Civil Aviation Minister Yotiraditya Scindia. Contact will be made.
He said Sikh leaders in Canada and the United States had approached the SGPC on the issue in the past, which was taken seriously by the Interim Committee. Advocate Dhami said that there are around 5 million Sikhs living abroad who are facing problems due to non-availability of direct flights to Amritsar. He said that direct flights to US, Canada, European countries, Australia, UK etc. should be started, for which a resolution has been passed by the Interim Committee and soon the SGPC will meet the Prime Minister and the Minister of Aviation. An appointment will also be made.
The SGPC President said that the Interim Committee has also decided to provide Rs. 15 lakh per annum for All India Pingalwara Charitable Society Amritsar.
He said that Bhagat Puran Singh had set an example for the betterment of humanity and Pingalwara society was moving forward with his thinking. The SGPC would continue its annual assistance of Rs. 15 lakh.
He also said that the SGPC would provide free services to the Punjabi refugees returning from Ukraine to Punjab in the midst of war. An agreement has been reached with the Indo-Canadian Bus Service, which will pick up the students from Delhi Airport. The children to be brought by the SGPC will be provided food and beverage services in the bus and the staff of Delhi Sikh Mission will work in Delhi to assist the children.
The SGPC President said that today is the age of social media and the Interim Committee has approved new amendments and guidelines to further strengthen the IT wing.
He said that a committee was constituted to streamline the IT wing and its recommendations would be implemented.
He said that at present Sikh issues were being deliberately confused and programs would be set up to discuss and provide authentic information. At the same time reliable Sikh news bulletins will be prepared and programs on Sikh history and doctrines will be launched. He said that the Interim Committee also decided to send 300 Holy Saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as per the demand of Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib. These holy saroops will be sent by special bus to the sangats of Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.
Shiromani Committee President Advocate Dhami also demanded immediate release of Sikh prisoners.
He said that the indifference of the governments on Sikh issues was a bad thing and Sikhs should get their rights as per the constitution of the country.
He said that Sikh prisoners who had completed three decades of imprisonment were not being released and some of them were not even granted parole. He said that The Kejriwal government in Delhi is adamant against the Centre's decision to release Davinderpal Singh Bhullar and the SGPC will meet the Indian Home Minister on the issue.
Apart from Shiromani Committee President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, Senior Vice President Raghujit Singh Virk, Junior Vice President Principal Surinder Singh, General Secretary Jathedar Karnail Singh Panjoli, Interim Committee Member Sarwan Singh Kular, Jarnail Singh Dogranwala, . Balwinder Singh Weinpuin, Harjap Singh Sultanwind, Gurinderpal Singh Gora, Amarjit Singh Bandala, Bibi Gurpreet Kaur, Jodh Singh Samra, Baba Gurpreet Singh, Secretary of the Shiromani Committee. Mahinder Singh Ahli, Additional Secretary Partap Singh, Sukhminder Singh, OSD Satbir Singh Dhami, Deputy Secretary Kulwinder Singh Ramdas, Balwinder Singh Kahlwan, Sukhbir Singh, Nirveil Singh, Superintendent Malkit Singh Bahirwal, Incharge Shahbaz Singh, Gurnam Singh, Azaddeep Singh, Gurcharan Singh Kohala, Lakhbir Singh etc. were present, _