Takht backs SGPC stand on ‘ unauthorised ‘ Gurbani broadcast

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami had asserted that “all rights pertaining to the broadcast of Gurbani from Harmandir Sahib were exclusively vested with the gurdwara body”

Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj on Tuesday backed Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s stand against unauthorised broadcast of Gurbani kirtan from the Golden Temple by a private channel, GTC.

Despite a legal notice and objections from the SGPC, GTC Channel has continued to air live telecasts of kirtan using the official YouTube feed without authorisation. (HT FILE)

“It is mandatory for anyone to secure permission from the gurdwara body for the telecast. Telecasting Gurbani without the SGPC’s permission, when it is responsible for ensuring maryada, is not fair. Anyone doing so should refrain from such acts,” Giani Gargaj said.

Despite a legal notice and objections from the SGPC, GTC Channel has continued to air live telecasts of kirtan using the official YouTube feed without authorisation.

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami had asserted that “all rights pertaining to the broadcast of Gurbani from Harmandir Sahib were exclusively vested with the gurdwara body.”

In a social media post addressed to Dhami, GTC managing director Rabindra Narayan said, “Out of respect for you, we temporarily stopped the Gurbani broadcast. Faced with the Sangat’s yearning for Gurbani, we had no choice but to resume the broadcast. We have received your legal notice. You may approach the court, go to the police, or even send me to jail—I will bow my head with folded hands. But stopping the Sangat from accessing Gurbani is not within my power.”

Sawinder Singh, coordinator and member of the official committee of Akal Takht in the US, on Tuesday met the acting jathedar and discussed the unauthorised publication of sacred birs (scriptures) of Guru Granth Sahib by some individuals in China and other foreign countries and their sale to devotees. They also discussed arrangements for providing sacred birs to Sikhs living abroad and alleged violations of and negligence concerning Sikh rehat maryada (code of conduct) in the management of gurdwaras.

“No individual or organisation other than the SGPC has the authority to independently publish or print sacred birs of Guru Granth Sahib. All the information regarding the unauthorised publication of sacred birs abroad would be thoroughly investigated, and strict action will follow,” he said.