Surjit Singh

SGPC finally initiates process to renovate Tarn Taran’s historic deori

The Tarn Taran’s historic deori at gurdwara Darbar Sahib was partially demolished by hundreds of men permitted by the SGPC that led to outrage among devotees who prevented further damage to the structure

Published on May 23, 2022 01:05 AM IST

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BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

Deal with post-sacrilege police firing cases sternly, Punjab CM urged

AAP MLA and former IPS officer Kunwar Vijay writes to Bhagwant Mann, alleging Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura firing cases not being pursued in “just manner” and influential accused trying to get off the hook

Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, the Amritsar North Aam Aadmi Party MLA, with party leader Arvind Kejriwal and chief minister Bhagwant Mann after joining the AAP last year. The 1998-batch IPS officer opted for premature retirement on April 9 , 2021, after the Punjab and Haryana high court quashed the probe report filed by the SIT led by him into the Kotkapura firing. (HT file photo)

Published on May 20, 2022 05:03 PM IST

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Sikh preacher Daduwal wants Sukhbir out from SGPC-led joint panel on Sikh prisoners

Daduwal demanded that Sukhbir Badal must be expelled from the panel on Sikh prisoners, saying that role of the SAD president has not remained in favour of the community during the previous SAD-BJP regime

Published on May 20, 2022 12:25 AM IST

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BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

Gurdaspur MP Sunny Deol’s absence from constituency riles residents

Gurdaspur MP Sunny Deol visited the segment last time in September 2020 when he met senior officials to discuss the coronavirus pandemic and other issues of his constituency

Published on May 16, 2022 01:39 AM IST

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BySurjit Singh, Gurdaspur

Panthic gathering: Moderate, radical Akalis put up united front for release of Sikh prisoners

The rare display of unity took place during a “panthic gathering” called by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) at its headquarters Teja Singh Samundri Hall in Amritsar on the directive of Akal Takht, the highest Sikh temporal seat.

SAD general secretary Prem Singh Chandumajra, party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann, former DSGMC presidents Paramjit Singh Sarna and Manjit Singh GK during a panthic gathering at the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar on Wednesday. (HT Photo)

Published on May 12, 2022 12:30 AM IST

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BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

Sikh bodies divided over panthic gathering called by SGPC on prisoners’ issue

The SGPC has called the meeting of Sikh bodies on May 11 over the issue of the release of the Sikh prisoners

Published on May 10, 2022 12:49 AM IST

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BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

SGPC to cover historic structure at Golden Temple with concrete slab, glass walls

SGPC is going to cover the historic structure at the sacred place which is called Gurdwara Manji Sahib and related to Guru Arjan Dev, with a concrete slab and glass walls in the name of preservation.

This place, adjacent to the eastern boundary of the Golden Temple complex and outside the Diwan Hall, is situated in what was formerly known as Guru ka Bagh (the Guru’s garden). The SGPC is going to cover the historic structure with concrete slab and glass walls. (HT Photo)

Published on May 09, 2022 01:20 AM IST

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BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

AAP MLA Nijjar likely to face tough contest in CKD presidential election

AAP MLA Nijjar is being considered as a strong candidate and the CKD presidential election was viewed as a one-sided contest earlier

Published on May 08, 2022 12:49 AM IST

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BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

Parwana, others falsely framed in Patiala violence: Akal Takht jathedar

The Akal Takht jathedar said that the Patiala violence is nothing but polarisation of votes to garner support of a particular community during elections

Published on May 07, 2022 01:13 AM IST

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BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

Akal Takht declares US Sikh publisher ‘tankhaiya’ for distortion in Gurbani

The Akal Takht, which is the highest temporal seat of Sikhism, listened to various stakeholders from the community on Tuesday before reaching its decision against the US Sikh publisher

Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh pronouncing the Sikh clergy’s decision in the case of distortion of Gurbani, in Amritsar on Tuesday. (Sameer Sehgal/HT)

Updated on May 03, 2022 11:33 PM IST

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BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

Sidhu ducks queries on complaint against him for anti-party activities

AICC Punjab affairs in-charge Harish Chaudhary has written to party president Sonia Gandhi, seeking disciplinary action against Navjot Singh Sidhu for trying to “portray himself above the party”

Former Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu has chosen to maintain a guarded silence on the complaint by AICC in-charge of state affairs Harish Chaudhary against him for anti-party activities. (HT file photo)

Published on May 03, 2022 03:47 PM IST

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Phoolka urges all Akali groups to fight together for Panthic issues

Senior advocate and former AAP legislator HS Phoolka on Friday released a video message, calling Punjab-based Panthic and splinter Akali groups to fight together for common issues of the Sikh qaum

HS Phoolka called for evolving an issue-based strategy to fight together for common issues concerning Sikhs. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

Updated on Apr 30, 2022 01:10 AM IST

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BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

For foolproof security, SGPC resolves to install scanners at Golden Temple entrances

Notably, an unknown person had made a sacrilege bid at the sanctum sanctorum in December last year. Prior to this, a person threw a gutka (handy book of gurbani) into the sarovar (holy tank) here. Recently, a woman was found smoking on the premises of the shrine. In view of these untoward incidents, SGPC resolved to install scanners at Golden Temple entrances

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Harjinder Singh Dhami with other members during the executive committee meeting held at Teja Singh Samundri Hall Golden Temple Complex in Amritsar on Tuesday. (Sameer Sehgal/HT)

Published on Apr 27, 2022 12:19 AM IST

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BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

Akal Takht likely to declare verdict against US Sikh publisher for distortion in gurbani

Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh said that concrete action will be taken on the matter of the US publisher during the panthic gathering next month for distortion in gurbani

Published on Apr 25, 2022 12:26 AM IST

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BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

To win trust of Sikhs, Centre must correct wrongs by Congress regimes: Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh

Addressing a gathering during the concluding event of the 400th Parkash Purb (birth anniversary) celebrations of ninth Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur at Manji Sahib Diwan Hall in Golden Temple complex, Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh no government has made any efforts to fulfil the promises made to Sikhs during Independence.

Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh also appealed to the Sikhs settled abroad to get their progeny connected with their roots in Punjab, on the 400th Parkash Purb (birth anniversary) celebrations of ninth Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur

Updated on Apr 22, 2022 01:41 AM IST

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BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

Navjot Sidhu skips Warring’s maiden visit to Amritsar as Punjab Congress chief

Former PCC chief Navjot Sidhu skipped a meeting held by Amarinder Singh Raja Warring during his maiden visit to Amritsar as the state Congress chief.

Pradesh Congress Committee president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring being welcomed by part leaders in Amritsar on Friday. Former PCC chief Navjot Sidhu skipped a meeting held by Warring during his maiden visit to the holy city. (HT Photo)

Updated on Apr 16, 2022 01:30 AM IST

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BySurjit Singh & ANI, Amritsar

Gurbani telecast row: SGPC mum on pact with PTC, to launch web channel in 10 days

It was on Friday that Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh after receiving complaints from the Sikh community had issued directions to the SGPC --- which manages affairs of the holiest Sikh shrine --- to launch its own web channel for live-streaming the kirtan.

SGPC member Kiranjot Kaur, who raised the issue in the recently held budget session of the gurdwara body, said, “Until the channel’s management comes out clean, the SGPC should disassociate itself from it. Going by the charges against the channel functionaries, it does not have any right to telecast gurbani.” (HT Photo)

Published on Apr 11, 2022 01:16 AM IST

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BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

HT Explainer: Gurbani telecast row puts SGPC in tight spot

The row over exclusive rights granted by the SGPC for the live telecast of Gurbani from the Golden Temple to PTC, a channel owned by the Badal family, is not new. In a letter to the election commission in 2017, the PTC management admitted that the channel was owned and operated by the company whose majority share-holding was with SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal

Following an FIR against the management of private channel broadcasting live Gurbani from the Golden Temple over immoral activities on the pretext of holding a beauty pageant and the SGPC rejecting chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s offer of installing the state-of-the-art broadcast/communication technologies at Darbar Sahib for its telecast, the row has escalated.

Published on Apr 09, 2022 01:13 AM IST

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Punjab to build two bridges to connect border villages across Ravi

The two bridges, to come up at a cost of ₹190 crore, will be built at Makora Pattan in Gurdaspur and Keeri Pattan in Pathankot district of Punjab

A pontoon bridge, built by the PWD, has to be dismantled for four months during the monsoon, snapping the road link of seven border villages in Gurdaspur every year. (HT File Photo)

Published on Apr 08, 2022 12:21 AM IST

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BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

Gurdaspur clash happened right under the nose of cops, shows video

The bloody clash over a land dispute had claimed four lives, including that of sarpanch’s husband, at Phulra village in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district on Monday

A clip of the Gurdaspur clash that surfaced on Wednesday shows two cops standing at a small distance from the spot with one recording a video on his mobile phone.

Published on Apr 07, 2022 01:23 AM IST

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BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

Ex-forest guard among 14 booked for killing 3 in Gurdaspur village clash

Gurdaspur police have booked 14 persons, including a retired forest guard, for allegedly killing three persons in a clash that took place at Phulara village over a land dispute on Monday.

Former PPCC president Navjot Singh Sidhu along with other former Congress MLAs meeting grieving kin of Nishan Singh, who was among four persons shot dead during a clash over land at Phulara village in Gurdaspur district. The Gurdaspur police have booked 14 persons, including a retired forest guard, for allegedly killing three persons in the clash. (HT Photo)

Published on Apr 06, 2022 01:19 AM IST

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BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

Missing ‘saroops’: SGPC reinstates 3 staffers on court order

In its judgement issued on March 22, the HC had said the SGPC did not follow rules while dismissing then assistant secretary Gurbachan Singh, clerk Baaz Singh and helper Dalbir Singh.

On April 1 and 2, the trio appeared at the headquarters of the SGPC on the premises of Golden Temple to resume duty in light of the court’s verdict, but were not allowed to do so. (HT Photo)

Published on Apr 04, 2022 11:17 PM IST

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BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

Amritsar: Rising pollution taking the shine off Golden Temple

The gold plating and marble surface of Golden Temple in Amritsar are losing their sheen, thanks to the rising pollution in the holy city. This has made the SGPC getting it cleaned frequently

As per data assessed by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), the quantity of air pollutants that affect the gold plating and marble surface of the Golden Temple, Amritsar, is increasing. (HT File Photo)

Published on Apr 03, 2022 01:37 AM IST

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BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

Missing ‘saroops’: HC reinstates 3 SGPC staffers, says rules not followed in sacking them

The HC said the SGPC did not follow rules while dismissing then assistant secretary Gurbachan Singh, clerk Baaz Singh and helper Dalbir Singh

In a setback to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the Punjab and Haryana high court has ordered reinstatement of three gurdwara body employees who were dismissed in 2020 over their alleged involvement in a case of 328 missing “saroops” of Guru Granth Sahib.

Updated on Apr 03, 2022 01:14 AM IST

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Majitha village clash: 2 Amritsar villages adopt resolution to ostracise Gujjars

“Nobody should lease or sell land to Gujjars, fodder should not be sold to them and milk should not be purchased from them. They should be warned against grazing their cattle in the fields,”reads the resolution signed by village sarpanch and others.

Two persons were killed in a clash between farmers and Gujjars at Anaitpura village near Majitha . (HT FILE)

Published on Mar 31, 2022 11:54 PM IST

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BySurjit Singh, Amritsar:

Row over gurbani telecast from Golden Temple by pvt channel deepens

Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on Wednesday asked the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to launch its own channel.

The issue was raked up during the budget session of the gurdwara body, which objected to the continuation of rights to the channel even after an FIR registration. (HT Photo)

Updated on Mar 31, 2022 12:17 AM IST

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BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

SGPC spares a whopping ₹718 crore for management of gurdwaras in its budget

The expenses exceed the revenue estimates of ₹958.45 crores in the SGPC budget for the second consecutive year

SGPC passes <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>988 crore budget, concerned over deficit faced by educational institutions (HT) — SGPC passes ₹988 crore budget, concerned over deficit faced by educational institutions (HT)

Updated on Mar 30, 2022 11:47 PM IST

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BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

Tension simmers 5 days after clash in Majitha village

Heavy police force has been deployed at Anaitpura village after a clash that left two persons dead and several injured on March 22

Police at Anaitpura village in Majitha where the clash between farmers and Gujjars took place. (HT Photo)

Published on Mar 28, 2022 01:21 AM IST

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BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

Kejriwal, Mann lead grand road show in Amritsar

Addressing the gathering, Mann invited people to attend his swearing-in ceremony at the ancestral village of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and take a pledge for the holistic development of the state and betterment of its people

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal with Punjab CM-elect Bhagwant Mann during a road show in Amritsar on Sunday. (Sameer Sehgal/HT)

Published on Mar 14, 2022 12:48 AM IST

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BySurjit Singh, Amritsar