HSGMC to Print Guru Granth Sahib; Golden Temple Threat Email Sender Nabbed

Marking its 11^th foundation day, the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) announced it will begin printing of Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh scripture, GGS) and Gutka Sahib (abridged version of scripture) at a dedicated facility in Ambala. 'We had requested 500 copies each from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee due to rising demand in Haryana, but received no response,' said HSGMC president Jagdish Singh Jhinda at a commemorative event held at Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi, Kurukshetra. While earlier the GGS was being printed by a private entity Jeewan Singh Chattar Singh & Sons, since 2006, Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Eternal Throne) mandated that only SGPC can print the GGS. The HSGMC decision could create a new tussle between the institutions. Meanwhile, the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) received three more email threats taking the total count to five. The emails were traced to 24-year-old software engineer, Shubham Dubey, from Faridabad in Haryana. However, no mainstream media named the person in their headlines or called this a terrorist activity. This is unlike how the media treats people from minority communities, including Sikhs. Amritsar Indian National Congress Member of Parliament Gurjeet Singh Aujla demanded that union and state governments jointly increase security at Darbar Sahib. However, Darbar Sahib head granthi (hymns reciter) and former Akal Takht jathedar (leader) Giani Raghbir Singh said, 'Staff of the SGPC is efficient enough to ensure security inside Sri Darbar Sahib. Outside it, the administration should perform its duty to provide security to the devotees.' SGPC member and former general secretary Bibi Kiranjot Kaur said, 'After Operation Blue Star, Sikhs were allowed to enter the Darbar Sahib only after being thoroughly checked. Are political parties trying to create that same atmosphere again? Let the Gurdwara remain a Gurdwara—keep your politics out of it' (earlier coverage).