A 10-member delegation of Sikh representatives met Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Friday, urging him to take up the community's long-pending issues with the Centre. The group stated that they had previously listed these concerns in a letter sent to the Centre on May 23.
Key Demands Raised
The signatories sought strict guidelines to prevent restrictions on Sikhs wearing the kirpan during examinations, both in Punjab and outside the state. They also called for expanding the Anand Marriage Act to include provisions for divorce and other matrimonial matters, not just marriage registration.
Additionally, the delegation demanded a review of all cases of Sikh political prisoners and a one-time general amnesty for those who have completed their sentences or a substantial portion of them. Other demands included the return of historic gurdwaras such as Mangu Math in Puri and Gyan Godri in Haridwar to Sikhs, introducing and protecting Punjabi as a second language in adjoining states, reopening the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, liberal visa policies for NRI Sikhs, and abolishing the blacklist of NRI Sikhs.
Further Requests
The group also sought immediate elections for the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), amendments to the Sikh Gurdwara Act of 1925, and the return of artefacts and manuscripts taken during the June 1984 attack on Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple).
Delegation Members
The delegation comprised advocate Navkiran Singh; Dr Khushhal Singh, secretary of Kendriya Singh Sabha; Jaspal Singh Sidhu; Dr Birendra Kaur, secretary general of ISC, Chandigarh; Giani Kewal Singh, former jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib; Gurpreet Singh, vice-president of the Institute of Sikh Studies; and R P Singh, spokesperson of Akhand Kirtani Jatha.
Future Plans
The representatives announced plans to convene a panthic meeting on June 29 to prepare a unified perspective for discussions with the Government of India.
