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Live telecast of Gurbani: SGPC to launch YouTube channel
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) office bearers have given a clear indication of launching a YouTube channel for the live telecast of the Gurbani kirtan from the Golden Temple after July 23, the day its agreement with PTC Channel ends.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) office bearers have given a clear indication of launching a YouTube channel for the live telecast of the Gurbani kirtan from the Golden Temple after July 23, the day its agreement with PTC Channel ends.
The SGPC general secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal, while speaking to select mediapersons, said, “In compliance with the Akal Takht edict, we are working on to launch the YouTube channel for the past six months. For which work to set up a studio is underway. The setup will also be used to broadcast the other religious activities of the SGPC. Work on it was underway even before the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 1925 was passed by the Punjab government. An amount of ₹60 lakh was allocated for it in the budget. The Punjab government’s move has no effect on our exercise”.
“As far as the live telecast of the Gurbani is concerned, no decision can be taken till July 23. Yet, we are trying to launch the YouTube channel before that day so that the edict of Akal Takht can be implemented”, he added.
The development comes against the backdrop of the Punjab assembly passing the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, on June 20 to ensure a free-of-cost broadcast of Gurbani from Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple) across platforms.
The House passed the amendment in the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925 by inserting Section 125A for ‘Live telecast of Gurbani free-of-cost’.
Part-1 of Section 125A reads: “It shall be the duty of the board to propagate the teachings of the Gurus by making uninterrupted (without any on-screen running advertisements or commercials or distortion) live feed (audio or audio as well as video) of holy Gurbani from Harmandar Sahib available free-of-cost to all media houses, outlets, platforms, channels etc, whosoever wishes to broadcast anywhere (including all over the world).”
Part-2 mandates that anyone broadcasting the holy Gurbani from Harmandar Sahib shall not run any advertisement at least 30 minutes before the start of the Gurbani broadcast or 30 minutes after it.
Sources said the sub-committee, constituted after Akal Takht’s edict, for giving recommendations on the issue of the telecast of Gurbani had conducted several meetings in the past and will conduct its final meeting before July 23.
The sources also said a plan of inviting tenders from the TV channels for the next agreement for the telecast has also been shelved and there is no progress in this direction.
Since 1998, the SGPC has given the rights to broadcast Gurbani from the holiest Sikh shrine to various channels. SGPC’s current agreement is with G-Next Media Private Limited (PTC Channel) and ends on July 23, 2023. This agreement was signed on July 24, 2012, for 11 years, and now, after its expiration, a fresh process was supposed to be carried out for the live broadcast of Gurbani.
Under the ongoing agreement, G-Next Media was to give ₹1 crore annually (with a 10% annual increase) to the education fund of SGPC. No dues are pending, and all the amount has been deposited so far by the channel.
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who has stakes in PTC, has faces allegations of monopolising the Gurbani telecast, a charge he has refuted on several occasions. SAD also has a majority in SGPC general house.
The SGPC general house on June 26 had rejected this Bill and warned of a stir if it was not withdrawn. The state government has sent the Bill to Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit for his assent.
SGPC delegation to meet Shah: Dhami
Patiala: SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami on Thursday said a delegation will soon meet Union home minister Amit Shah over the issue of the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill passed by the Punjab assembly. Speaking at an event at Bahadurgarh in Patiala, Dhami said that the state government has directly interfered in religious affairs by passing the Bill. “The Sikhs will never tolerate this invasion of the state government. Not even the Union government can amend the Act without the consent of two-thirds of the SGPC members,” Dhami said.
Will oppose Uniform Civil Code: SGPC chief
Dhami also opposed the Uniform Civil Code, citing concerns about the potential erosion of traditions, culture, and the unique identity of minorities.His remarks came a day after the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) said that the implementation of UCC throughout the country would have an adverse impact on minority and tribal communities.
Speaking to the media here, Dhami said the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), an apex gurdwara body, has taken a firm stand against the UCC and opposed its implementation. Dhami was here to attend ‘Nagar Kirtan’ (religious procession) held at Gurdwara Bahadurgarh Sahib.
