Panjab Govt Spars With SGPC over Guru Teghbahadar Anniversary Events

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Panjab government and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex representative body of Sikhs, are at logger heads over events planned to commemorate the 350^th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teghbahadar from 19-25 Nov. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said that the Panjab govt should focus on establishing meaningful memorials in connection with the ninth Sikh sovereign instead of creating a confrontational atmosphere by organizing parallel religious events. Dhami said the SGPC has already planned a series of events beginning April 2025 from Gurdwara Guru Ke Mahal, Amritsar. Since then, events have been organized across various parts of the country. He said the Panjab govt’s announcement of parallel events—overlapping with those planned by the SGPC at Anandpur Sahib—will cause confusion among the sangat (community) and goes against long-standing traditions. Panjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann retorted: does SGPC have a 'copyright' over observing the upcoming martyrdom day of Guru Teghbahadar? Mann said, 'Whose govt was in power when the 300^th anniversary of the Khalsa was celebrated? Wasn't it Parkash Singh Badal's govt? Was it not interference in religious affairs?' Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Eternal Throne, AT) Jathedar (leader) Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj backed SGPC president and asked the Panjab CM to become Amritdhari (initiated Sikh) before organizing religious functions which are otherwise the domain of SGPC. He said that Mann and most of his ministers trim their beards, would they adhere to Sikh maryada (code of conduct)? Giani Gargajj also asked all members of Chief Khalsa Diwan to become Amritdhari by 1 Sep. Earlier, on 17 Jul, despite the tensions between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor (vermillion marker) the SGPC announced plans to send a jatha (group) of Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan in November to mark Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary. Dhami said the SGPC will approach the Indian govt and hopes they will allow the jatha to Pakistan.